primary

Word Source: FreeBSD Dictionary

def get_n_random_words(num_random_words, prefix = None, suffix = None, substr = None):
    '''
        @param prefix
            - A character or phrase that all target words must start with
        @param suffix
            - A character or phrase that all target words must end with
        @param substr
            - A character or phrase that all target words must contain
        @param num_random_words
            - The number of random words to generate
            - Must be nonnegative
        @return
            - a list of @num_random_words unique words from _URL that
            meet the specified criteria
            - all words meeting the specified criteria if @num_random_words
            exceeds the number of matching words
            - None if @num_random_words is < 0, [] if @num_random_words is 0
    '''

If the primary generator fails (a.k.a, we lose Internet connectivity, so we can’t access the FreeBSD dictionary), the random word generator switches over to the backup pathway.

backup

def get_random_word(min_word_len, max_word_len):
    '''
        @param min_word_len
            - Minimum number of characters that must be in random word
            - Must be non-negative

        @param max_word_len
            - Maximum number of characters that can be in random word
            - Must be non-negative

        @return
            - A random word whose length is >= @min_word_len and <= @max_word_len characters.
            - If any of the inputs are invalid, then raise an InvalidWordLengthBoundsError.
    '''

def get_n_random_words(n, word_len_bounds = (2, 10)):
    '''
        @param n
        (Required)
        Number of random words to generate

        @param word_len_bounds
        (Optional)
        Tuple containing the bounds for the word length of each randomly generated word;
        item 0 = minimum word length (2 by default), item 1 = maximum word length (10 by default)

        @return
            - A list with @n random words, where word_len_bounds[0] <= len(each word) <= word_len_bounds[1]
            - An InvalidWordLengthBoundsError if word_len_bounds is an invalid tuple (length < 2)
    '''

The key difference between the primary and backup pathways is that the latter might not generate actual words; it is actually creating various strings of varying lengths and characters. Overall, the backup pathway is not as ideal as the primary, but it is a suitable alternative in the event of a network failure.