randomnames

go-random-names

A random names generator written in Golang.

Installation

$ go get github.com/random-names/go

Usage

Using in your code

package main

import (
	"fmt"
	rn "github.com/random-names/go"
)

func main() {
	firstName, err := rn.GetRandomName("census-90/male.first", &rn.Options{})
	if err != nil {
		fmt.Println(err)
	}

	lastName, err := rn.GetRandomName("census-90/all.last", &rn.Options{})
	if err != nil {
		fmt.Println(err)
	}

	fmt.Printf("random name: %v \n", firstName+" "+lastName)
}

The above example will return names from census-90/male.first(also all.last) database in names. If you wish to use the database from this repository, get it first!

go get github.com/random-names/names

You can also use database not from this repository. Just pass the relative path:

name, err := rn.GetRandomName("relative/path/to/database", &rn.Options{})

To get multiple names, switch to GetRandomNames and specify the option Number:

package main

import (
	"fmt"
	rn "github.com/random-names/go"
	"strings"
)

func main() {
	lastNames, err := rn.GetRandomNames("census-90/all.last", &rn.Options{Number: 5})
	if err != nil {
		fmt.Println(err)
	}

	fmt.Printf("random last-names: %v \n", strings.Join(lastNames, ", "))
}

Want names to be more realistic? You only need to enable the Real option! Note: Only database provides cumulative percentage of each name support this feature. See here.

name, err := rn.GetRandomName("relative/path/to/database", &rn.Options{Real: true})

The last option is Max, which is used along with Real. For example, if you set Max to 50 while Real enabled, you will always get names those are the most popular 50% ones. Note: You cannot set the value of Max larger than the maximum percentage in the database.

Running in command line

You should install the go-rn binary first. In your $GOPATH/src/github.com/random-names/go folder, run the following command:

$ go install ./...

Then you can run it. The example will pick a name from census-90/male.first randomly:

$ go-rn census-90/male.first

Check the usage here:

USAGE:
   go-rn [global options] command [command options] [arguments...]

COMMANDS:
     help, h  Shows a list of commands or help for one command

GLOBAL OPTIONS:
   --max value, -m value     the maximum of the random number (default: 0)
   --number value, -n value  how many names to generate (default: 1)
   --real, -r                use the real percentage
   --help, -h                show help
   --version, -v             print the version