Jason Lamb .ME Some stuff I think is cool and interesting, you might too!

October 1, 2026

Random Wheel: Sometimes the Right App Is Just a Spinning Wheel

Filed under Fun

Not every decision needs a spreadsheet. Some need a list, a wheel, and enough suspense for everyone to lean toward the screen. That is the entire premise of Random Wheel.

The page accepts one choice per line. Blank lines are ignored, while duplicate entries remain separate chances. That behavior is stated directly beneath the editor, because repeating a name should not silently mean something different from what the person running the wheel expects.

Each spin lasts five seconds. The page displays the result and keeps a list of the last ten winners, giving a group a little context when several selections happen in a row. The wheel and entry controls use a responsive layout so the tool can work on different screen sizes.

The best part of a small project like this is knowing what to leave out. There is no need to turn a list picker into an account-management system just because the next feature is imaginable. Entering choices and seeing the result are the main jobs.

It is useful for casual selections, games, and low-stakes group activities. A repeated entry changes the chance structure, so that is something the person preparing the list should choose intentionally.

Random Wheel belongs in the same repository as much more complicated applications, and I think that is appropriate. The amount of code does not determine whether a tool fits its purpose. Sometimes the useful solution really is a colorful circle that spins for five seconds and ends the debate.

Explore the project on GitHub