How Bug Garden picks names
Bug Garden is a free random name picker for classrooms, meetings and workshops. Open Settings, paste one name per line, then choose Quick Pick for one person or Bug Hunt for a scored round.
Every catch is an independent draw
With 20 distinct names, each name has a 5% chance on every catch. Previous results do not change the next draw. A person can be selected several times in a row, and scores are not forced to be equal, unless No Repeats is on.
No Repeats mode
Turn on No Repeats in Settings to draw without replacement. Each pick chooses uniformly from the names not yet picked in the current rotation, so with 20 names everyone is picked exactly once in 20 picks. When the last name is picked, a new rotation starts with the full list. The remaining names are stored in this browser, so a rotation survives a page reload. Editing the list or switching the option starts a new rotation; Shuffle does not. In Bug Hunt, No Repeats spreads points as evenly as possible.
Browser-generated randomness
The game uses crypto.getRandomValues() and rejection sampling to select an unbiased index into the list. It does not use Math.random() or give extra weight to names near the top.
Shuffle only reorders the list
The Shuffle button mixes the names displayed in Settings. Save applies that order; Cancel discards the edit. Shuffling does not change anyone's probability of being picked.
Quick Pick and Bug Hunt
Quick Pick creates one bug. Catch it to reveal one selected name, then choose Pick Again for another independent draw. Bug Hunt creates the configured number of bugs; every hit awards one point. Equal scores are ordered by the time each participant received their most recent point, earliest first. The first name on that leaderboard is shown in the award. A score counts random selections, not participant skill.
Bug Race
Bug Race draws the winner the moment the race starts, with the same selection as a catch (one uniform draw, or the next name of the rotation with No Repeats). The other places are a shuffle of the remaining names. The race then acts that order out: each bug's speed, lead changes and mishaps are animation chosen so that every bug crosses the line at its planned time. Nothing that happens on the track changes the result, so every name has the same chance on every race. With No Repeats on, only the names still waiting for a turn are on the track. See the name race picker.
Your names and shared links
The game stores names and scores in your browser. Sharing places the configuration in the URL fragment. Anyone with that link can read the names. Use nicknames and share only lists you intend others to see.