Name-matching challenge

generate-mock-names.py

import random

from faker import Faker


def _generate_typo(name: str) -> str:
    """Introduces a simple typo into the given name."""
    if len(name) > 3:
        idx = random.randint(1, len(name) - 2)
        new_char = random.choice('abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz')
        return name[:idx] + new_char + name[idx+1:]
    return name # Fallback for very short names

def _generate_middle_initial(name: str) -> str:
    """Adds a middle initial to the name if not present, or converts a middle name to an initial."""
    parts = name.split()
    if len(parts) >= 2:
        if len(parts) == 2: # "First Last" -> "First M. Last"
            return f"{parts[0]} {random.choice('ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ')}. {parts[1]}"
        elif len(parts) == 3 and '.' not in parts[1]: # "First Middle Last" -> "First M. Last"
            return f"{parts[0]} {parts[1][0]}. {parts[2]}"
    return name # Already has middle initial, too complex, or too few parts

def transform(variation: str, name: str) -> str:
    variations = {
        "lowercase": str.lower,
        "typo": _generate_typo,
        "middle_initial": _generate_middle_initial
    }
    return variations[variation](name)


if __name__ == "__main__":
    fake = Faker()
    num_names = 10

    original_names = [fake.name() for _ in range(num_names)]
    names = random.sample(
        original_names + [
            transform(variation, name)
            if random.random() < 0.7
            else fake.name()
            for name, variation in zip(
                original_names,
                random.choices(population=["lowercase", "typo", "middle_initial"], k=len(original_names))
            )
        ],
        k=num_names*2
    )
    del original_names
    print(names)