gistfile1.rb

# Markov chain text generator.
# This is a test comment.

start_text = File.read(ARGV[0])
text_chars = start_text.split(//)

stats = {}
text_chars.each_with_index do |letter, index|
  current_pair = [letter, text_chars[index+1], text_chars[index+2]].join
  if text_chars[index+3] != nil
    stats[current_pair] = {} if stats[current_pair] == nil	
    if stats[current_pair][text_chars[index+3]] == nil
      stats[current_pair][text_chars[index+3]] = 1
    else
      stats[current_pair][text_chars[index+3]] += 1
    end
  end
end

puts stats.inspect

def write_char(stats, previous)
  puts "previous: #{previous}"
  keys = stats[previous].keys
  keys[rand(keys.length)]
end

def make_string(stats, len)
  pairs = stats.keys
  start_pair = pairs[rand(pairs.length)]

  generated = start_pair.dup
  len.times do |i|
    previous = generated
    generated << write_char(stats, generated[-1].chr + generated[-2].chr + generated[-3].chr)
  end
  generated
end

puts make_string(stats, 10)