Generator Webpage & Node.js Script
Sometimes, I just need some sample CSV data to test visualisation tools. I put together a simple Node.js generation script for creating larger datasets, and a simple webpage for small datasets.
The command-line script and the webpage allow you to create CSV multi-dimensional datasets that are gigabytes in size and decades in length, or just a small single series that fits in your clipboard.
The datasets are also Random Walks (vs random noise), which gives a better idea of how a chart will display real time-series data.
CSV Datasets
CSV datasets can be a useful way of storing time synchronous time-series data in a format that stands the test of time. CSV files don’t require bespoke programs to open or special know-how to unpack. Any CSV files created today will still be editable by engineers in 20 years without having to maintain legacy programs or databases, which is important when maintaining physical assets with multi-decade lifespans.
