IntlRandString

generate internationalized random alpha-numeric strings

• Usage in a PHP Project
• Standalone Utility
• Development

About

The IntlRandString package facilitates generating random strings in multiple internationalized character sets. A typical use-case is generating random passwords in a targeted "language", i.e. using characters familiar to a language rather than simply using only english latin characters, as is typical. For similar reasons, it could also prove ideal in other use-cases, such as: password reset validation codes, coupon or promotional codes, etc.

Usage in a PHP Project

use composer to add IntlRandString to your PHP project:

composer require katmore/intl-rand-string

A random string can be generated with the following character sets:

• Cyrillic
• English
• German
• Italian
• Spanish

Cyrillic Charset

Example, using the Cyrillic Charset to generate a random string:

$randString = new IntlRandString\Charset\Cyrillic();
echo $randString->randomString(12);

The above example should output a random string that includes only cyrillic characters and latin digits, such as follows:

МхЫЖЬкхЛДхЦЗ

English Charset

Example, using the English Charset to generate a random string:

$randString = new IntlRandString\Charset\English();
echo $randString->randomString(12);

The above example should output a random string that includes only latin characters and latin digits as used in English, such as follows:

fMomhRErXWa8

German Charset

Example, using the German Charset to generate a random string:

$randString = new IntlRandString\Charset\German();
echo $randString->randomString(12);

The above example should output a random string that includes only latin characters and latin digits as used in German, such as follows:

0ZNuXÄGksyse

Italian Charset

Example, using the Italian Charset to generate a random string:

$randString = new IntlRandString\Charset\Italian();
echo $randString->randomString(12);

The above example should output a random string that includes only latin characters and latin digits as used in Italian, such as follows:

DMFPZNusSJTO

Spanish Charset

Example, using the Spanish Charset to generate a random string:

$randString = new IntlRandString\Charset\Spanish();
echo $randString->randomString(12);

The above example should output a random string that includes only latin characters and latin digits as used in Spanish, such as follows:

Uí64DSYjWóQr

Development

The following utility scripts facilitate development of character sets:

• make-charset.php
• make-all-charsets.sh

unit tests

The unit tests specified by phpunit.xml check the basic sanity and entropy of generated random strings for each character set.

$ vendor/bin/phpunit

make-charset.php dev utility

The bin/devel/make-charset.php command-line developer utility script creates a character set class defintion PHP source file in the src/IntlRandString/Charset directory. After creating a character set, perform all unit tests to ensure conformity.

Specifying the --help option will display usage details.

$ bin/devel/make-charset.php --help

make-all-charsets.sh dev utility

The bin/devel/make-all-charsets.sh command-line developer utility script contains the Unicode start and end points for all Charset class defintions. Invoking it will (re-)generate all character set defintion source files.

$ bin/devel/make-all-charsets.sh

The Unicode character ranges for the Charsets are ultimately defined in bin/devel/make-all-charsets.sh. Therefore, by modifying the make-all-charsets.sh source file, character sets can be permanently added or modified. After modifying the source and invoking to (re-)generate character sets, perform all unit tests to ensure conformity.

For example, the "German" character set is defined in make-all-charsets.sh as follows:

#
# German Charset
#
CHARSET_LETTERS=
CHARSET_LETTERS="$CHARSET_LETTERS U+00E4 U+00E5 U+00F6 U+00F7 U+00FC U+00FD" #diaresis a,o,u
CHARSET_LETTERS="$CHARSET_LETTERS U+00C4 U+00C5 U+00D6 U+00D7 U+00DC U+00DD" #diaresis A,O,U
CHARSET_LETTERS="$CHARSET_LETTERS U+00DF U+00E0 U+1E9E U+1E9F" #sharp s,S
make_charset german\
   $LATIN_NUMBERS\
   $BASIC_LATIN_LETTERS\
   $CHARSET_LETTERS

rand-string utility

A standalone utility is provided by the bin/rand-string.php script. Details regarding the usage of this utility and instructions for an optional global installation are included in this section.

rand-string standalone installation

These installation instructions rely on the make-phar.sh installer script. See the make-phar.sh utility section for more in-depth details and troubleshooting.

Installation instructions:

• Download intl-rand-string project using git (or similar), and enter the project directory.

  $ git clone git@github.com:katmore/intl-rand-string.git
  $ cd intl-rand-string

• Use the bin/install/make-phar.sh utility with the --install flag to create and install the phar package on your system.

  $ bin/install/make-phar.sh --install

rand-string utility examples

The rand-string (or bin/rand-string.php) command line utility generates random strings.

Example #1, using default charset and length.

• the following command

  $ rand-string

• should produce output similar to the following

  195tTXDob0ol

The first positional argument specifies the length of the random string.

Example #2, using default charset and specifying length:

• the following command

  $ rand-string 20

• should produce output similar to the following

  3QCBSV3YC3Dow62Jib5C

A charset may be specified for one-time use with the --charset=<CHARSET-NAME> flag.

Example #3, using cyrillic charset:

• the following command

  $ rand-string --charset=cyrillic

• should produce output similar to the following

  ЯИкМСзГД8уя9

The English charset is the global default, though this may be changed (see usage).

Example #3, setting the german as default:

• the following command

  $ rand-string --set-default-charset=german

• should produce output similar to the following

  $ rand-string: default-charset is now 'german'

• subsequent executions should produce random strings using the german charset, the following command

  $ rand-string

• should produce output similar to the following

  öt7ß1vCQwtNE

Any Charset available in IntlRandString\Charset may be used.

Example #4, getting a list of available charsets:

• the following command

  $ rand-string --list

• should produce output similar to the following

  Cyrillic
  English
  German
  Italian
  Spanish

• and thus, the following command

  $ rand-string --charset=Spanish

• should produce output similar to the following

  rñQ0m1úDkáMV

rand-string utility usage

usage:
rand-string [-hl|<setting command>] | [--charset=][<char flags...>][<LEN>]

mode flags:
  -h,--help 
    Print a help message and exit.
  -l,--list
    Print each available charset and exit.

setting commands:
  --set-default-charset=<CHARSET-NAME>
    Set the default charset for the current user and exit.
  --print-default-charset
    Print the default charset for the current user and exit.

random string options:
  --charset=<CHARSET-NAME>
    Optionally specify random string charset.

  char flags:
    --no-upper-letters
      Random string will not include upper-case characters.
    --no-lower-letters
      Random string will not include lower-case letter characters.
    --no-digits
      Random string will not include digit numeral characters.
    --only-upper-letters
      Random string will only include upper-case characters.
      Cannot be used with any other char flag.
    --only-lower-letters
      Random string will only include lower-case characters.
      Cannot be used with any other char flag.
    --only-digits
      Random string will only include digit numerical characters.
      Cannot be used with any other char flag.
    
arguments:
  <LEN>
    Optionally specify random string length.
    Default: 12

make-phar.sh utility

The bin/install/make-phar.sh utility creates a standalone rand-string.phar phar package file using bin/rand-string.php as the entrypoint. Optionally, it will copy the phar package file to an installation path.

Prerequisites

• composer
• php command line binary

Usage

make-phar.sh [-h] | [--install [--install-path=<PATH>]] [<bin path options>]
options:
  -h,--help: Print a help message and exit.
  --install: Optionally install as a global system command.
  --install-path=<PATH>
    Optionally specify global system command installation path.
    Default: /usr/local/bin/rand-string

bin path options:
  --composer-bin=<COMPOSER-PATH>
    Optionally specify path to composer.
  --php-bin=<PHP-PATH>
    Optionally specify path to php binary.

Legal

Copyright

IntlRandString - https://github.com/katmore/intl-rand-string

Copyright (c) 2012-2018 Doug Bird. All Rights Reserved.

License

IntlRandString is copyrighted free software. You may redistribute and modify it under either the terms and conditions of the "The MIT License (MIT)"; or the terms and conditions of the "GPL v3 License". See LICENSE and GPLv3.