LDP/LDP/guide/docbook/abs-guide/rand-string.sh

#!/bin/bash
# rand-string.sh
# Generating an 8-character "random" string.

if [ -n "$1" ]  #  If command-line argument present,
then            #+ then set start-string to it.
  str0="$1"
else            #  Else use PID of script as start-string.
  str0="$$"
fi

POS=2  # Starting from position 2 in the string.
LEN=8  # Extract eight characters.

str1=$( echo "$str0" | md5sum | md5sum )
#  Doubly scramble     ^^^^^^   ^^^^^^
#+ by piping and repiping to md5sum.

randstring="${str1:$POS:$LEN}"
# Can parameterize ^^^^ ^^^^

echo "$randstring"

exit $?

# bozo$ ./rand-string.sh my-password
# 1bdd88c4

#  No, this is not recommended
#+ as a method of generating hack-proof passwords.