this post was submitted on 24 May 2025
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cat /proc/sys/kernel/random/uuid [I ❤️ Linux] (feddit.org)
submitted 14 hours ago by A_norny_mousse@feddit.org to c/linux@programming.dev
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That's all. I just found this in a random script. Generates a random UUID every time it's called. I didn't know.

Of course I can also use uuidgen or pipe /dev/(u)random into something to get a random alphanumeric string - but this is built right into the kernel!

In /proc/sys/kernel/random/, there's also boot_id which seems to do the same, and some tweakable parameters.

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[–] timhh@programming.dev 5 points 6 hours ago

Yeah but please don't actually use this. Use a proper UUID library that works cross-platform and lets you choose the UUID type and can be seeded etc.