Sometimes you need fake data for things like testing software, populating databases and creating realistic-looking mockups. For text, we have lorem ipsum; but for everything else...? This tool was written to provide a quick and simple way to let you generate large volumes of custom data in whatever format you require.

There's a free online version found on our website: http://www.generatedata.com/#generator The online demo is actually running a very old version of the code, no longer available.

Version 2 was never fully completed. A proof of concept was gotten up and running back in 2010, which added (basic) modularity and improved a few things, but I abandoned it in favour of some other projects I was working on at the time. However, the tag is available if you want a copy.

http://alpha.generatedata.com

Currently the 3.0.0 branch is in alpha phase, meaning it's not production ready - lots of bugs to squash! However, that's the version I'd suggest downloading and using. I'm working on this version currently (Jan 2013) and hope to get it into Beta / final release fairly soon.

Please be warned: the trunk of the code is in flux. The UI, functionality, code architecture and other big stuff has all be settled, but any check-in may make the script unusable. So if you're downloading it, download the latest tag.

• 1.0.0 - found on our live site, but now out of date.
• 2.3.9 - a refactored version of 1.0.0 offering a lot more options. This is fully functional and you can download it via the tag.
• 3.0.0 - currently under development. This version is a complete re-write of 2.3.9.

For (rather scanty) installation instructions of version 1 and 2 of the scripts, please see: http://www.generatedata.com/#download

Version 3 has a built-in installation script. Much, much more documentation coming soon... first thing's first: finish 3.0.0!

Ben Keen @vancouverben