Python random module shuffle keeps returning same output

Asked May 08 '20 at 15:35

Active May 08 '20 at 15:41

Viewed 209 times

I am trying to get a random pair of colors from a Python list. Here is my code so far:

from random import *

color_choices = ['#FAACA8', '#DDD6F3', '#21D4FD', '#B721FF', '#08AEEA', '#2AF598', '#FEE140', '#FA709A', '#8EC5FC', '#E0C3FC', '#FBAB7E', '#F7CE68', '#D9AFD9', '#97D9E1', '#FBDA61', '#FF5ACD', '#F76B1C']
shuffle(color_choices)
print(color_choices)

The problem is the it keeps returning the same "random" order on each run of the program

['#21D4FD', '#FBDA61', '#B721FF', '#F76B1C', '#FBAB7E', '#DDD6F3', '#E0C3FC', '#2AF598', '#F7CE68', '#FF5ACD', '#FEE140', '#FA709A', '#8EC5FC', '#08AEEA', '#FAACA8', '#97D9E1', '#D9AFD9']

I ran the program three times. It cannot be a coincidence that the shuffle will return all colors in the exact same order three times.

What am I missing?

Thanks.

edited May 08 '20 at 15:38

asked May 08 '20 at 15:35

Real Noob

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What is the definition of `shuffle`? – Scott Hunter May 08 '20 at 15:37
Are you setting the random number seed someplace? It should default to the current time of day unless you explicitly set it. – Tom Karzes May 08 '20 at 15:38
Try calling `random.seed()` before execution. – chash May 08 '20 at 15:38
@ScottHunter I am importing the random module from Python. – Real Noob May 08 '20 at 15:39
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Can't reproduce - you may have a `random.py` file in your current directory. – rassar May 08 '20 at 15:39
@rassar No, there is no such file. I checked just now. :) – Real Noob May 08 '20 at 15:42
However, `random` module was imported twice. Can that be a problem? – Real Noob May 08 '20 at 15:42
@hmm calling `random.seed()` worked. Do we have to call it every time we need to shuffle or is my program doing something weird? – Real Noob May 08 '20 at 15:43
You should call `random.seed()` at the start of the program. – Scott Hunter May 08 '20 at 15:45
@hmm: How does one call a function "before execution"? – Scott Hunter May 08 '20 at 15:46
@ScottHunter Before execution ... of shuffle. – chash May 08 '20 at 15:46
@ScottHunter If you don't call `random.seed()`, it uses the current time of day to initialize its state. The only time you need to call it is if you want to have a reproducible sequence. – Tom Karzes May 08 '20 at 18:14

Python random module shuffle keeps returning same output

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