# rand vs rand_core

| Attribute | rand | rand_core |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 60.2 (22% (low)) | 43.5 (17% (low)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 5 | 2 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 86,804 | 73,473 |
| adoption.github_stars | 2,068 | 13 |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"Rand is a random number generation library for the Rust programming language. It provides random number generators and related randomness functionality, supported by comprehensive documentation and API reference materials.","source":"https://rust-random.github.io/book","question":"What is rand?","confidence":0.95},{"answer":"Rand is an open source project available free of charge. There are no licensing fees, subscriptions, or usage-based costs.","source":"https://rust-random.github.io/book","question":"What does rand cost?","confidence":0.95},{"answer":"Rand is designed specifically for Rust developers. It provides native Rust capabilities for integrating random number generation into Rust applications.","source":"https://rust-random.github.io/book","question":"What programming language does rand support?","confidence":0.95},{"answer":"Rand includes extensive documentation and an API reference available through its official website. These resources explain how to implement random number generation in Rust projects.","source":"https://rust-random.github.io/book","question":"Where can I find documentation and API reference?","confidence":0.9},{"answer":"Yes, rand is an open source project released free of charge. Review the project's license terms for details on permitted uses.","source":"https://rust-random.github.io/book","question":"Is rand open source?","confidence":0.85},{"answer":"Rand is intended for Rust developers who need to incorporate random number generation into their applications. It provides core randomness functionality for various types of Rust projects.","source":"https://rust-random.github.io/book","question":"Who should use rand?","confidence":0.85}]` | `[{"answer":"rand_core is a Rust library that provides core traits and tools for implementing random number generation functionality. It serves as a foundation for developers who are building their own randomness solutions and libraries within the Rust ecosystem.","source":"https://rust-random.github.io/book","question":"What is rand_core?","confidence":0.95},{"answer":"rand_core is open-source software available at no cost. There are no subscription fees, licensing charges, or usage restrictions for using the library.","source":"https://rust-random.github.io/book","question":"What is the cost and licensing model?","confidence":1},{"answer":"rand_core is designed for Rust developers who need to implement random number generation capabilities in their projects or libraries. It provides the essential traits and foundational tools required to build such implementations.","source":"https://rust-random.github.io/book","question":"Who should use rand_core?","confidence":0.9},{"answer":"The project includes a quick start guide, an overview of available features, and contributor documentation. These resources support both users getting started with the library and developers interested in contributing.","source":"https://rust-random.github.io/book","question":"What documentation is provided?","confidence":0.95},{"answer":"Yes, rand_core welcomes community contributions. The project provides dedicated contributor documentation to guide developers interested in participating in its development.","source":"https://rust-random.github.io/book","question":"Can developers contribute to the project?","confidence":0.9},{"answer":"rand_core is built specifically for the Rust programming language. It integrates with Rust's type system and ecosystem to provide traits and tools for random number generation implementations.","source":"https://rust-random.github.io/book","question":"What programming language does rand_core target?","confidence":0.85}]` |
| description.long | Extended documentation for Rust's random number library, including quick start, crates overview, users' guide, and contributor guidelines. | An open-source Rust library providing foundational traits for implementing random number generation algorithms. It supplies the core interfaces that RNG implementations build on, along with helper utilities for algorithm development. |
| language.primary | Rust | Rust |
| license.spdx | - | Apache-2.0 |
| market.availability | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","sourceUrl":"https://rust-random.github.io/book","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T11:04:40.260Z"}` | `{"type":"open_source","sourceUrl":"https://rust-random.github.io/book","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T11:10:14.361Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | - | yes |
| pricing.model | open_source | open_source |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| pricing.transparent | yes | - |
| release.cadence_days | 9 | 71 |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand/releases/tag/0.8.8","date":"2026-08-25T07:58:45Z","type":"stable","version":"0.8.8"},{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand/releases/tag/0.9.5","date":"2026-07-11T11:19:03Z","type":"stable","version":"0.9.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand/releases/tag/0.8.7","date":"2026-07-11T11:19:28Z","type":"stable","version":"0.8.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand/releases/tag/0.10.2","date":"2026-07-02T09:02:44Z","type":"stable","version":"0.10.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand/releases/tag/0.8.6","date":"2026-04-17T06:44:06Z","type":"stable","version":"0.8.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand/releases/tag/0.9.4","date":"2026-04-13T15:42:39Z","type":"stable","version":"0.9.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand/releases/tag/0.10.1","date":"2026-04-13T15:43:08Z","type":"stable","version":"0.10.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand/releases/tag/0.9.3","date":"2026-04-13T15:42:08Z","type":"stable","version":"0.9.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand/releases/tag/0.10.0","date":"2026-02-14T07:28:28Z","type":"stable","version":"0.10.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand/releases/tag/0.9.2","date":"2026-04-13T15:41:30Z","type":"stable","version":"0.9.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand/releases/tag/0.9.1","date":"2025-04-17T14:40:57Z","type":"stable","version":"0.9.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand/releases/tag/0.9.0","date":"2025-01-27T13:41:24Z","type":"stable","version":"0.9.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand/releases/tag/0.9.0-alpha.0","date":"2024-02-18T17:53:46Z","type":"prerelease","version":"0.9.0-alpha.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand/releases/tag/rand_distr-0.5.0-alpha.0","date":"2024-02-18T17:56:14Z","type":"prerelease","version":"rand_distr-0.5.0-alpha.0"}]` | `[{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand_core/releases/tag/v0.10.1","date":"2026-04-13T15:37:40Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.10.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rust-random/rand_core/releases/tag/v0.10.0","date":"2026-02-01T09:09:36Z","type":"stable","version":"v0.10.0"}]` |
| reliability.status_page | yes | yes |
| security.scorecard | 6.2 | - |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":1,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=cargo&package_name=rand&per_page=100","last_12m":1,"max_severity":"LOW"}` | `{"count":2,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=cargo&package_name=rand_core&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":"CRITICAL"}` |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T17:10:21.162Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*