Rantly
Rantly is a free, self-hosted Ruby library for generating random test data and running property-based checks.
What Rantly is
Rantly is a free, self-hosted Ruby library for generating random test data and running property-based checks. Its methods return values such as strings, integers, and floats through an implementation described as a recursive-descent interpreter. Generators cover integers, ranges, floats, booleans, choices, weighted frequencies, arrays, strings, and hashes. The README documents integrations for Test::Unit, Minitest, and RSpec. Property checks run 100 times by default; the count can be changed with an argument to `check` or the `RANTLY_COUNT` environment variable. Optional shrinking can reduce failing values, but its search is limited to at most 1,024 operations and does not fully traverse the failure tree. Ordinary arrays and hashes are not shrunk. The project is published under the MIT License and welcomes contributors. Installation is through `gem install rantly` or a Gemfile. The README says Ruby 3.2 or higher is required, while the RubyGems listing for version 3.0.0 specifies Ruby 3.3.0 or higher.
Good
- Provides generators for common data types.
- Documents Test::Unit, Minitest, and RSpec integrations.
- Property-check count is configurable.
- Optional shrinking can reduce failing values.
Watch out
- Ordinary arrays and hashes are not shrunk.
- Shrinking stops after at most 1,024 operations.
- Ruby version requirements differ between the README and RubyGems listing.
Who it suits
Rantly may suit Ruby developers who want generated inputs for property checks and use Test::Unit, Minitest, or RSpec. Check the Ruby version requirement for the package version you plan to use.
Verdict
Rantly offers a broad set of random-data generators and integrations with three Ruby test runners. Its shrinking limits and the differing Ruby-version requirements are worth noting.
Plans and prices
From Rantly's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Rantly | Free | Ruby library · MIT license |
The facts
Each one read from Rantly's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Data generators
- Its generators include integers, ranges, floats, booleans, choices, weighted frequencies, arrays, strings, and hashes.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Implementation
- Rantly describes itself as a recursive-descent interpreter whose methods return random values such as strings, integers, and floats.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Install
- The README says to install it with `gem install rantly` or add it to a Gemfile.checked 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The project code is published under the MIT License.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Maintainers
- The project README welcomes new contributors.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Package release
- RubyGems lists version 3.0.0 dated October 21, 2024.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Property test count
- Property checks run 100 times by default, with the count configurable by an argument to `check` or the `RANTLY_COUNT` environment variable.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Rantly generates random test data and provides a Test::Unit extension for property-based testing.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Ruby requirement
- The repository README says Rantly requires Ruby 3.2 or higher.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Shrinking
- Optional shrinking can reduce failing values; the documented search is limited to at most 1024 shrinking operations and does not fully traverse the failure tree.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Shrinking limitation
- The README says ordinary arrays and hashes are not shrunk.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Testing integrations
- The README documents extensions for Test::Unit, Minitest, and RSpec.checked 9 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Platform requirement
- RubyGems lists the required Ruby version for version 3.0.0 as >= 3.3.0.checked 9 Oct 2026
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