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Alternate to sort --random-sort

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# 1  
Old 04-14-2012
Alternate to sort --random-sort
Code:
sort --random-sort

The full command is

Code:
path=`find /testdir -maxdepth 1 -mindepth 1 -type d | ***Some sort of sort function*** | head -1`

I have a list I want to randomly sort. It works fine in ubuntu but on a 'osx lion' sort dosen't have the --random-sort option.

I don't want to have to install anything is there another way to randomly sort a list?

Cheers in advance

DV
Last edited by digitalviking; 04-14-2012 at 04:17 PM..
# 2  
Old 04-14-2012
This may not be the most efficient way, but it might work. Assigns a random "key" to each record and then sorts based on the key and strips the key away:

Code:
awk 'BEGIN{ srand( ); } { printf( "%.5f %s\n", rand(), $0); }' input-file | sort -k 1n,1 | sed 's/^[^ ]* //'



More specific to your case:
Code:
command | awk 'BEGIN{ srand( ); } { printf( "%.5f %s\n", rand(), $0); }' | sort -k 1n,1 | sed 's/^[^ ]* //; 1q'

Last edited by agama; 04-14-2012 at 04:21 PM.. Reason: Additional command sample
This User Gave Thanks to agama For This Post:
digitalviking
# 3  
Old 04-14-2012
I like it! It seems a bit round the houses.

How would I put that into my command?

Code:
path=`find /testdir -maxdepth 1 -mindepth 1 -type d | ***Some sort of sort function*** | head -1`

# 4  
Old 04-14-2012
Quote:
Originally Posted by digitalviking
I like it! It seems a bit round the houses.

How would I put that into my command?

Code:
path=`find /testdir -maxdepth 1 -mindepth 1 -type d | ***Some sort of sort function*** | head -1`

Code:
path=$( find /testdir -maxdepth 1 -mindepth 1 -type d | awk 'BEGIN{ srand( ); } { printf( "%.5f %s\n", rand(), $0); }' | sort -k 1n,1 | sed 's/^[^ ]* //; 1q' )

This User Gave Thanks to agama For This Post:
digitalviking
# 5  
Old 04-14-2012
It works... haha!

It would be great to get something a bit simpler but if it works it works!

Cheers
# 6  
Old 04-14-2012
Hi, I know You already have an answer, but the following could be an alternative, insert where You have
Code:
***Some sort of sort function***

It's using the same idea but with other programs.
Code:
while read line;do echo $RANDOM'|'$line;done |sort|cut -d"|" -f2-

Best regards, Lakris
This User Gave Thanks to Lakris For This Post:
digitalviking
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