True Random Number Service

Automated Clients

RANDOM.ORG is a true random number service that generates randomness via atmospheric noise. This page describes how to use automated clients to interface to the service.

The service can be accessed via HTTP. The HTTP Interface Description explains how to do this and the HTTP Client Archive contains clients donated by generous RANDOM.ORG users. The SOAP and CORBA interfaces are currently disabled.

Guidelines (Important!)

If you use an automated client, please make sure it observes the following guidelines:

Do not hit the server with multithreaded clients. Use a single thread to perform successive requests.
If you need many numbers, issue requests that fetch the numbers in blocks as large as possible. Please do not issue a request for every single number, unless you only need one.
Use a long timeout value for your requests. Unless you have used up your quota, the RANDOM.ORG server actually tries to satisfy all requests, so if you use a short timeout value, your request will be abandoned halfways and the numbers discarded. This increases load on the server. Allow at least a couple of minutes for the server to complete your request.
Configure your client to examine your remaining quota at regular intervals. If your allowance is negative, your client should back off and not issue any requests for numbers for a while. See the Quota Checker Documentation for details on how to do this, how long to delay, etc.
Configure your client to supply your email address in the User-Agent field of the request. That way, I can drop you a line if your client is causing trouble.

As always, feel free to email me if you have questions!