C#

Generating Repeatable Random Data for Testing/Debugging

See more PRNG Examples

Demonstrates how to use the Fortuna PRNG to generate random-looking but repeatable non-random data for the purpose of testing and debugging. C#

bool success = false;

// This example assumes the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
// See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

success = false;

Chilkat.Prng fortuna = new Chilkat.Prng();

// Normally an application would seed the PRNG with entropy from
// some real random source.  However, sometimes we want the same
// random sequence of bytes for testing and debugging purposes.
// This a reason why GetEntropy and AddEntropy are two different methods.
// An application could omit the call to GetEntropy, and instead pass
// non-random data to AddEntropy. For example:

// Seed the PRNG with non-entropy, so we get a repeatable sequence.
// Note: AddEntropy can be called any number of times.
success = fortuna.AddEntropy("01020304","hex");
success = fortuna.AddEntropy("hello world","ascii");

// Generate some random data:
string strRandHex = fortuna.GenRandom(16,"hex");
string strRandBase64 = fortuna.GenRandom(22,"base64");
string strRandBase58 = fortuna.GenRandom(32,"base58");

Debug.WriteLine("hex random bytes: " + strRandHex);
Debug.WriteLine("base64 random bytes: " + strRandBase64);
Debug.WriteLine("base58 random bytes: " + strRandBase58);

// Try it again with a different object to verify that the same results are obtained:
Chilkat.Prng fortuna2 = new Chilkat.Prng();

success = fortuna2.AddEntropy("01020304","hex");
success = fortuna2.AddEntropy("hello world","ascii");

strRandHex = fortuna2.GenRandom(16,"hex");
strRandBase64 = fortuna2.GenRandom(22,"base64");
strRandBase58 = fortuna2.GenRandom(32,"base58");

Debug.WriteLine("hex random bytes: " + strRandHex);
Debug.WriteLine("base64 random bytes: " + strRandBase64);
Debug.WriteLine("base58 random bytes: " + strRandBase58);