RandEx

RandEx is a library designed to provide advanced randomisation functions in C#. It provides various methods for generating random numbers, selecting random elements, shuffling collections and more.

Nuget

Installation

Run dotnet add package RandEx

Features

• Custom seed management: Initialize random number generation with custom seeds.
• Flexible random number generation:
  • Random integers (with various range options).
  • Random doubles (uniform distribution).
  • Random booleans.
  • Gaussian distribution: Generate random numbers according to a normal distribution.
• Advanced Utility Methods:
  • Generate random date/time objects.
  • Select random items from collections.
  • Shuffle collections.
  • Generate random colours, GUIDs, and byte arrays.
  • Enumeration support: Easily select random values from any enumeration.
• Thread-safe implementation: Each thread maintains its own state for safe and efficient concurrent use, making it suitable for multi-threaded environments.

Example

// Import the namespace
using RandEx;

Basic Random Number Generation

// Random integer between two values
int randomInt = RandomEx.GetRandomInt(10, 50);

// Random double between 0.0 and 1.0
double randomDouble = RandomEx.GetRandomDouble();

// Random boolean
bool randomBool = RandomEx.GetRandomBool();

Deterministic Randomization with Custom Seeds

// Set a custom seed for deterministic random number generation
RandomEx.SetSeed(123456);
int deterministicRandom = RandomEx.GetRandomInt();

Gaussian Distribution

// Generate a random number with a Gaussian (normal) distribution
double randomGaussian = RandomEx.GetRandomGaussian();

Random Collection Utilities

var list = new List<int> { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 };

// Get a random element
int randomElement = RandomEx.GetRandomElement(list);

// Shuffle the list
RandomEx.Shuffle(list);

Random DateTime

// Random DateTime between two dates
DateTime randomDate = RandomEx.GetRandomDateTime(
    new DateTime(2000, 1, 1),
    new DateTime(2020, 1, 1)
);

Random Bytes and Colors

// Generate a random byte array
byte[] randomBytes = RandomEx.GetRandomBytes(16);

// Generate a random color
var (R, G, B) = RandomEx.GetRandomByteColor();

Random Enumeration Values

enum Colors { Red, Green, Blue, Yellow }

// Get a random enum value
Colors randomColor = RandomEx.GetRandomEnumValue<Colors>();

Random Char

// Generate a char (From 'a' to 'z')
char randomChar = RandomEx.GetRandomChar('a', 'z');
// Generate a char (From '0' to '9')
char randomChar2 = RandomEx.GetRandomChar('0', '9');
// Generate a char (From ' ' to '~') default
char randomChar3 = RandomEx.GetRandomChar();

API Reference

Random Number Methods

Method	Description
SetSeed(int seed)	Sets a custom seed for deterministic randomization.
GetRandomInt(int minValue = 0, int maxValue = int.MaxValue)	Generates a random integer between minValue and maxValue.
GetRandomFloat(float minValue = 0.0f, float maxValue = float.MaxValue)	Generates a random float number in the specified range.
GetRandomDouble()	Generates a random double between 0.0 and 1.0.
GetRandomBool()	Generates a random boolean (true or false).
GetRandomGaussian()	Generates a random number from a Gaussian distribution (mean=0, stddev=1).

Collection Utilities

Method	Description
GetRandomElement<T>(IList<T> collection)	Returns a random element from the given collection.
Shuffle<T>(List<T> values)	Shuffles the elements in the provided list.
GetRandomEnumValue<T>()	Returns a random value from the specified enumeration type. (e.g., Enum Colors { Red, Green }, it selects one randomly).

Specialized Randomization

Method	Description
GetRandomDateTime(DateTime? minDate = null, DateTime? maxDate = null)	Generates a random DateTime between the specified minDate and maxDate. If minDate is null, it defaults to DateTime.MinValue. Similarly, if maxDate is null, it defaults to DateTime.MaxValue.
GetRandomByteColor()	Generates a random color represented as a byte tuple (R, G, B).
GetRandomBytes(int length)	Generates a random byte array of the specified length.
GetRandomByte()	Generates a random byte (0-255).
GetRandomChar(char minChar = ' ', char maxChar = '~')	Generates a random character from a specified inclusive character range, based on Unicode values
GetRandomString(int length, RandomStringOptions options = ...)	Generates a random string of the specified length using selected character sets.By default, it includes lowercase letters, uppercase letters, and numbers.
GetRandomHexColor()	Generates a random hexadecimal color code. (e.g., "#FF5733")
(double Latitude, double Longitude) GetRandomGeoCoordinate()	Generates a random geographic coordinate (latitude, longitude).