Ruhoh plugin to pragmatically get a list of n random pages from an arbitrary pages collection.

pages_random.rb

# ./my-blog/plugins/pages_random.rb
module PagesRandom

  # Return n random page objects.
  # Limit can be set in config.yml:
  #   pages:
  #     random_limit: 10
  def random
    limit = config['random_limit'].to_i
    limit = limit > 0 ? limit : 5
    all.sample(limit)
  end

  # Return n random page objects.
  # Limit can be set dynamically by chaining the method call:
  #   {{# pages.random_with_limit.25 }}
  #     <li><a href="{{ url }}">{{ title }}</a></li>
  #   {{/ pages.random_with_limit.25 }}
  def random_with_limit
    @random_with_limit ||= RandomProxy.new(self)
  end

  # Allows arbitrary responses to methods that can be cast to Integers.
  # ex: random_with_limit.5 where "5" can be cast to an Integer
  class RandomProxy < SimpleDelegator
    def method_missing(name, *args, &block)
      __getobj__.all.sample(name.to_s.to_i)
    end

    def respond_to?(method)
      (method.to_s.to_i > 0) ? true : super
    end
  end
end

Ruhoh::Resources::Pages::CollectionView.send(:include, PagesRandom)

usage.md

Usage

In your View

<h5>Random with config limit</h5>
<ul>
{{# pages.random }}
  <li><a href="{{ url }}">{{ title }}</a></li>
{{/ pages.random }}
</ul>

<h5>Random with embedded limit</h5>
<ul>
{{# pages.random_with_limit.4 }}
  <li><a href="{{ url }}">{{ title }}</a></li>
{{/ pages.random_with_limit.4 }}
</ul>

*Note this works on any collection not just "pages".

pages.random

Limit can be set in configuration:

pages:
  random_limit: 3 # defaults to 5 in the above example plugin

pages.random_with_limit

Limit can be set dynamically by chaining the method call:

limit: 1
{{# pages.random_with_limit.1 }}
  <li><a href="{{ url }}">{{ title }}</a></li>
{{/ pages.random_with_limit.1 }}

limit: 25
{{# pages.random_with_limit.25 }}
  <li><a href="{{ url }}">{{ title }}</a></li>
{{/ pages.random_with_limit.25 }}