In this episode i want to show you, how easy it is to create a fake-data generator application.

Why?

1. to get inspired
2. if you need such tool behind restricted areas (without internet)
3. software testers need a lot of fake-data

Required

• Python > 2.7
• Python Faker package installed

# install by pip
$ sudo pip install fake-factory

Example Application Code

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
from faker import Factory


class BasicGenerator(object):

    SETTINGS = ('Prefix', 'Name', 'Address', 'E-Mail', 'Phone',
                'Birthday', 'Company')

    def __init__(self):
        """Constructor for vars and factory object"""
        self._repeat_count = None
        self._selection = None
        self.__faker = Factory.create()

    def faker_data(self, count, selection):
        """Return fake data string"""
        output = str()
        loops = int(count)
        value = tuple(selection)
        for i in range(0, loops):
            if 0 in value:
                output += self.__faker.prefix()
            if 1 in value:
                output += self.__faker.name() + '\n'
            if 2 in value:
                output += self.__faker.address() + '\n'
            if 3 in value:
                output += self.__faker.email() + '\n'
            if 4 in value:
                output += self.__faker.phone_number() + '\n'
            if 5 in value:
                output += self.__faker.date() + '\n'
            if 6 in value:
                output += self.__faker.company() + '\n'
            output += '\n'
        return output

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
from BasicGenerator import BasicGenerator
from Tkinter import (Tk, Button, Variable, Listbox, MULTIPLE, FALSE, END,
                     Spinbox, E, W)
from ScrolledText import ScrolledText


class FakeNameGenerator(BasicGenerator):

    def __init__(self):
        """Constructor for Tkinter GUI"""
        BasicGenerator.__init__(self)
        self.__root = Tk()
        self.__root.title('FakeNameGenerator')
        self.__root.resizable(width=FALSE, height=FALSE)
        self.__result_output = None
        self.__box_opt = Variable(self.__root)
        self.__box_opt.set(self.SETTINGS)

    def start_app(self):
        """Build widgets and start TK loop"""
        self.__control_widget()
        self.__output_widget()
        self.__root.mainloop()

    def quit_app(self):
        """Stop and close application"""
        self.__root.quit()

    def __reset_output(self):
        """Reset TK text"""
        self.__result_output.delete(1.0, END)

    def __run_fake_data(self):
        """Validate and generate output"""
        count = int(self._repeat_count.get())
        selection = self._selection.curselection()
        if not selection:
            self.__result_output.insert(END, 'No value selected!\n\n')
        elif count < 1:
            self.__result_output.insert(END, 'Min. 1 need!\n\n')
        elif count > 10:
            self.__result_output.insert(END, 'Max. 10 allowed!\n\n')
        else:
            data = self.faker_data(count, selection)
            self.__result_output.insert(END, data)

    def __control_widget(self):
        """Build control widgets"""
        self._selection = Listbox(self.__root,
                                  listvariable=self.__box_opt,
                                  selectmode=MULTIPLE)
        self._selection.grid(padx=5, column=1, row=1, sticky=W+E)
        self._repeat_count = Spinbox(self.__root,
                                     from_=1,
                                     to=10)
        self._repeat_count.grid(column=1, row=2, sticky=W+E)
        Button(self.__root,
               text='Create',
               command=self.__run_fake_data).grid(column=1, row=3, sticky=W+E)
        Button(self.__root,
               text='Reset',
               command=self.__reset_output).grid(column=1, row=4, sticky=W+E)
        Button(self.__root,
               text='Quit',
               command=self.quit_app).grid(column=1, row=6, sticky=W+E)

    def __output_widget(self):
        """Build output widget"""
        self.__result_output = ScrolledText(self.__root, width=80)
        self.__result_output.grid(padx=5, pady=5, column=0, row=0, rowspan=7)
        self.__result_output.config(borderwidth=1, highlightthickness=1)


if __name__ == '__main__':
    RUN = FakeNameGenerator()
    RUN.start_app()

Run Fake-Data Application

# set access permissions
$ chmod u+x FakeNameGenerator.py

# start application
$ python -B ./FakeNameGenerator.py

Now it`s on you to improve this tiny application! As example you could add file and/or database export, add more functionality or just improve the GUI.