Index: openacs-4/packages/acs-lang/tcl/test/acs-lang-test-procs.tcl
===================================================================
RCS file: /usr/local/cvsroot/openacs-4/packages/acs-lang/tcl/test/acs-lang-test-procs.tcl,v
diff -u -r1.28.2.9 -r1.28.2.10
--- openacs-4/packages/acs-lang/tcl/test/acs-lang-test-procs.tcl	30 Sep 2019 19:06:05 -0000	1.28.2.9
+++ openacs-4/packages/acs-lang/tcl/test/acs-lang-test-procs.tcl	29 Nov 2019 11:12:34 -0000	1.28.2.10
@@ -896,8 +896,8 @@
         set timezones [lc_list_all_timezones]
         set n [expr {[llength $timezones]-1}]
 
-        set desired_user_timezone [lindex $timezones [randomRange $n] 0]
-        set desired_system_timezone [lindex $timezones [randomRange $n] 0]
+        set desired_user_timezone [lindex $timezones [util::random_range $n] 0]
+        set desired_system_timezone [lindex $timezones [util::random_range $n] 0]
 
         set error_p 0
         ad_try {
Index: openacs-4/packages/acs-mail-lite/tcl/email-inbound-procs.tcl
===================================================================
RCS file: /usr/local/cvsroot/openacs-4/packages/acs-mail-lite/tcl/email-inbound-procs.tcl,v
diff -u -r1.15.2.6 -r1.15.2.7
--- openacs-4/packages/acs-mail-lite/tcl/email-inbound-procs.tcl	20 Nov 2019 11:27:31 -0000	1.15.2.6
+++ openacs-4/packages/acs-mail-lite/tcl/email-inbound-procs.tcl	29 Nov 2019 11:12:34 -0000	1.15.2.7
@@ -1899,7 +1899,7 @@
             # It will be 10 for a while..
             # so use eleven 9's
             # Some cycles are saved by using a constant
-            append uid_partial "." [randomRange 99999999999]
+            append uid_partial "." [util::random_range 99999999999]
             append uid_partial "." [lindex $uid_list 2]
 
             set uid $uid_partial
Index: openacs-4/packages/acs-mail-lite/tcl/test/email-inbound-procs.tcl
===================================================================
RCS file: /usr/local/cvsroot/openacs-4/packages/acs-mail-lite/tcl/test/email-inbound-procs.tcl,v
diff -u -r1.7.2.4 -r1.7.2.5
--- openacs-4/packages/acs-mail-lite/tcl/test/email-inbound-procs.tcl	10 Aug 2019 14:45:54 -0000	1.7.2.4
+++ openacs-4/packages/acs-mail-lite/tcl/test/email-inbound-procs.tcl	29 Nov 2019 11:12:34 -0000	1.7.2.5
@@ -52,19 +52,19 @@
                 set param "-"
                 append param $p
                 if { $p in $bools_list } {
-                    set val_idx [randomRange 5]
+                    set val_idx [util::random_range 5]
                     set val [lindex $bools_v_list $val_idx]
                 } elseif { $p in $integer_list } {
-                    set val [randomRange 32767]
+                    set val [util::random_range 32767]
                 } elseif { $p in $ints_list } {
                     set nums_list [list]
-                    set up_to_10 [randomRange 10]
+                    set up_to_10 [util::random_range 10]
                     for {set i 0} {$i < $up_to_10 } {incr i} {
-                        lappend nums_list [randomRange 32767]
+                        lappend nums_list [util::random_range 32767]
                     }
                     set val [join $nums_list " "]
                 } elseif { $p in $lists_list } {
-                    set val_idx [randomRange 2]
+                    set val_idx [util::random_range 2]
                     set val [lindex $nv_list_list $val_idx]
                 }
                 aa_log "r41. Testing change of parameter '${p}' from \
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@
             set lh_list [list l h]
             set subject [ad_generate_random_string]
             set su_glob "*"
-            append su_glob [string range $subject [randomRange 8] end]
+            append su_glob [string range $subject [util::random_range 8] end]
 
            # priority_types are in order of least significant first.
            set p_type_i 0
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@
                 }
 
                 # set new case of parameters
-                set r [randomRange 10000]
+                set r [util::random_range 10000]
                 set p_min [expr { $r + 999 } ]
                 set p_max [expr { $p_min * 1000 + $r } ]
                 set su_max $p_max
@@ -248,10 +248,10 @@
                 aa_log "r161 given: t0 '${t0}' dur_s '${dur_s}'"
                 aa_log "r161b given: s0 '${s0}' su_max '${su_max}'"
 
-                set t1 [expr { int( $t0 - $dur_s * 1.9 * [random]) } ]
-                set t2 [expr { int( $t0 - $dur_s * 1.9 * [random]) } ]
-                set s1 [expr { int( $s0 * 0.9 * [random]) } ]
-                set s2 [expr { int( $s0 * 0.9 * [random]) } ]
+                set t1 [expr { int( $t0 - $dur_s * 1.9 * [util::random]) } ]
+                set t2 [expr { int( $t0 - $dur_s * 1.9 * [util::random]) } ]
+                set s1 [expr { int( $s0 * 0.9 * [util::random]) } ]
+                set s2 [expr { int( $s0 * 0.9 * [util::random]) } ]
                 aa_log "r167 priorities: t1 '${t1}' t2 '${t2}' s1 '${s1}' s2 '${s2}'"
                 if { $t1 < $t2 } {
                     set t $t1
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@
                aa_log "Following three tests 'pass' when no imap sessions open."
                aa_false "ref367. acs_mail_lite::imap_conn_close -conn_id 'all'" $conn_id
 
-               set conn_id [randomRange 1000]
+               set conn_id [util::random_range 1000]
                if { [catch {set t3 [acs_mail_lite::imap_conn_close -conn_id $conn_id]} errmsg] } {
                    set t3 1
                }
@@ -538,16 +538,16 @@
                             x-autorespond ]
            for {set ii 1} {$ii <= $i} {incr ii } {
                # send garbage to try to confuse proc
-               set t [randomRange 4]
+               set t [util::random_range 4]
                set h ""
                # Some examples already have header types that limit
                # test type.
                if { $type_arr(${ii}) eq "auto_gen" && $t > 2 } {
-                   set t [randomRange 2]
+                   set t [util::random_range 2]
                }
 
                if { $type_arr(${ii}) eq "in_reply_to" && $t > 1 } {
-                   set t [randomRange 1]
+                   set t [util::random_range 1]
                }
                set type_test [lindex $t_olist $t]
 
@@ -565,16 +565,16 @@
                }
                if { $t < 2 } {
                    # add auto_reply headers
-                   switch [randomRange 2] {
+                   switch [util::random_range 2] {
                        0 {
-                           append h [lindex $ar_list [randomRange 5]]
+                           append h [lindex $ar_list [util::random_range 5]]
                            append h " : " [ad_generate_random_string]
                        }
                        1 {
                            append h "action : delivered"
                        }
                        2 {
-                           set h2 [lindex $s_list [randomRange 3]]
+                           set h2 [lindex $s_list [util::random_range 3]]
                            append h "action : " $h2 "\n"
                            append h "status : thisis a test"
                        }
@@ -583,22 +583,22 @@
                }
                if { $t < 1 } {
                    # add bounce headers
-                   if { [randomRange 1] } {
+                   if { [util::random_range 1] } {
                        # test original-recipient (diverted, reply)
                        append h "original-recipient : "
                        append h [ad_system_owner] "\n"
                    } else {
                        # test delivery status notification
                        append h action
-                       append h " : " [lindex $s_list [randomRange 3]]
+                       append h " : " [lindex $s_list [util::random_range 3]]
                        append h "\n" status " : "
-                       append h [expr { 99 + [randomRange 900] } ] " "
-                       append h [ad_generate_random_string [randomRange 9]]
+                       append h [expr { 99 + [util::random_range 900] } ] " "
+                       append h [ad_generate_random_string [util::random_range 9]]
                        append h "\n"
                    }
                }
                # maybe mess up capitalization
-               set c [randomRange 3]
+               set c [util::random_range 3]
                switch -exact -- $c {
                    0 {
                        set h [string tolower $h]
@@ -650,14 +650,14 @@
                $sect_id1 ""
 
 
-           set section [randomRange 100]
+           set section [util::random_range 100]
            set sect_id1 [acs_mail_lite::section_id_of $section]
            set sect_id2 [acs_mail_lite::section_id_of $section]
            aa_equals "r605 test case section '${section}'" \
                $sect_id2 $sect_id1
            set sect_arr(${sect_id1}) $section
            for {set i 0} {$i < 6} {incr i} {
-               append section "." [randomRange 100]
+               append section "." [util::random_range 100]
                set sect_id1 [acs_mail_lite::section_id_of $section]
                set sect_id2 [acs_mail_lite::section_id_of $section]
                aa_equals "r606 test case section '${section}'" \
@@ -701,13 +701,13 @@
            set object_ct [llength $object_id_list]
            for {set i 0} {$i < 12} {incr i } {
                set package_id [lindex $package_id_list \
-                                   [randomRange $package_ct]]
+                                   [util::random_range $package_ct]]
                set party_id [lindex $party_id_list \
-                                 [randomRange $party_ct]]
+                                 [util::random_range $party_ct]]
                set object_id [lindex $object_id_list \
-                                  [randomRange $object_ct]]
+                                  [util::random_range $object_ct]]
                set other [ad_generate_random_string]
-               set blank_id [randomRange 3]
+               set blank_id [util::random_range 3]
                set blank_field [lindex $fields_list $blank_id]
                set $blank_field ""
                # if package_id = aml_package_id, it still is signed here
Index: openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/utilities-init.tcl
===================================================================
RCS file: /usr/local/cvsroot/openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/utilities-init.tcl,v
diff -u -r1.10 -r1.10.2.1
--- openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/utilities-init.tcl	7 Aug 2017 23:48:00 -0000	1.10
+++ openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/utilities-init.tcl	29 Nov 2019 11:12:34 -0000	1.10.2.1
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 }
 
 # initialize the random number generator
-randomInit [ns_time]
+util::random_init [ns_time]
 
 # Create mutex for util_background_exec
 nsv_set util_background_exec_mutex . [ns_mutex create oacs:bg_exec]
Index: openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/utilities-procs.tcl
===================================================================
RCS file: /usr/local/cvsroot/openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/utilities-procs.tcl,v
diff -u -r1.189.2.37 -r1.189.2.38
--- openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/utilities-procs.tcl	22 Nov 2019 16:20:15 -0000	1.189.2.37
+++ openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/utilities-procs.tcl	29 Nov 2019 11:12:34 -0000	1.189.2.38
@@ -433,10 +433,16 @@
 
 
 
-ad_proc util_PrettyTclBoolean {
+ad_proc -deprecated util_PrettyTclBoolean {
     zero_or_one
 } {
     Turns a 1 (or anything else that makes a Tcl IF happy) into Yes; anything else into No
+
+    DEPRECATED: this proc is not localized, does not comply with
+    OpenACS naming convention and can be replaced by simple oneliner
+    idioms based e.g. on expr command
+
+    @see plain tcl idioms involving message keys
 } {
     if {$zero_or_one} {
         return "Yes"
@@ -445,30 +451,65 @@
     }
 }
 
-ad_proc -public randomInit {seed} {
+ad_proc -deprecated randomInit {seed} {
     seed the random number generator.
+
+    DEPRECATED: this proc does not respect OpenACS naming convention
+
+    @see util::random_init
 } {
+    return [util::random_init $seed]
+}
+
+ad_proc -public util::random_init {seed} {
+    Seed the random number generator.
+} {
     nsv_set rand ia 9301
     nsv_set rand ic 49297
     nsv_set rand im 233280
     nsv_set rand seed $seed
 }
 
-
-ad_proc -public random {} {
+ad_proc -deprecated random {} {
     Return a pseudo-random number between 0 and 1.
+
+    DEPRECATED: this proc does not respect OpenACS naming convention
+
+    @see util::random
 } {
+    return [util::random]
+}
+
+ad_proc -public util::random {} {
+    Return a pseudo-random number between 0 and 1. The reason to have
+    this proc is that seeding can be controlled by the user and the
+    generation is independent from tcl.
+
+    @see util::random_init
+} {
     nsv_set rand seed [expr {([nsv_get rand seed] * [nsv_get rand ia] + [nsv_get rand ic]) % [nsv_get rand im]}]
     return [expr {[nsv_get rand seed]/double([nsv_get rand im])}]
 }
 
-ad_proc -public randomRange {range} {
+ad_proc -deprecated randomRange {range} {
     Returns a pseudo-random number between 0 and range.
 
+    DEPRECATED: this proc does not respect OpenACS naming convention
+
+    @see util::random_range
+
     @return integer
 } {
+    return [util::random_range $range]
+}
+
+ad_proc -public util::random_range {range} {
+    Returns a pseudo-random number between 0 and range.
+
+    @return integer
+} {
     incr range
-    return [expr {int([random] * $range) % $range}]
+    return [expr {int([util::random] * $range) % $range}]
 }
 
 ad_proc -public db_html_select_options {
@@ -3430,7 +3471,7 @@
     set len [llength $list]
     set result [list]
     while { [llength $list] > 0 } {
-        set index [randomRange [expr {[llength $list] - 1}]]
+        set index [util::random_range [expr {[llength $list] - 1}]]
         lappend result [lindex $list $index]
         set list [lreplace $list $index $index]
     }
Index: openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/test/acs-tcl-apm-procs.tcl
===================================================================
RCS file: /usr/local/cvsroot/openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/test/acs-tcl-apm-procs.tcl,v
diff -u -r1.10.2.3 -r1.10.2.4
--- openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/test/acs-tcl-apm-procs.tcl	3 Sep 2019 06:35:55 -0000	1.10.2.3
+++ openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/test/acs-tcl-apm-procs.tcl	29 Nov 2019 11:12:34 -0000	1.10.2.4
@@ -22,14 +22,14 @@
 
         set package_list [db_list get_packages "select package_key from apm_package_types"]
         aa_log "List of packages: \{$package_list\}"
-        set list_index [randomRange [expr {[llength $package_list] - 1}]]
+        set list_index [util::random_range [expr {[llength $package_list] - 1}]]
         set package_key [lrange $package_list $list_index $list_index]
 
         set parameter_name [ad_generate_random_string]
         set description [ad_generate_random_string]
 
         set values { {number} {string} }
-        set index [randomRange 1]
+        set index [util::random_range 1]
 
         #
         # Choose randomly string or number parameter.  Also choose
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
         set package_list [db_list get_packages "select package_key from apm_package_types"]
         aa_log "List of packages: \{$package_list\}"
 
-        set list_index [randomRange [expr {[llength $package_list] - 1}]]
+        set list_index [util::random_range [expr {[llength $package_list] - 1}]]
         set package_key [lrange $package_list $list_index $list_index]
         set instance_name "$package_key-[ad_generate_random_string]"
 
Index: openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/test/acs-tcl-test-procs.tcl
===================================================================
RCS file: /usr/local/cvsroot/openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/test/acs-tcl-test-procs.tcl,v
diff -u -r1.71.2.18 -r1.71.2.19
--- openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/test/acs-tcl-test-procs.tcl	3 Sep 2019 06:35:55 -0000	1.71.2.18
+++ openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/test/acs-tcl-test-procs.tcl	29 Nov 2019 11:12:34 -0000	1.71.2.19
@@ -765,7 +765,7 @@
     -cats {api smoke} \
     -procs {
         util::randomize_list
-        randomRange
+        util::random_range
     } \
     util__randomize_list {
         Test util::randomize_list
@@ -780,7 +780,7 @@
     set randomized_list [util::randomize_list $org_list]
     aa_true "Ten-element list: $randomized_list" [util_sets_equal_p $org_list $randomized_list]
 
-    set len [randomRange 200]
+    set len [util::random_range 200]
     set org_list [list]
     for { set i 0 } { $i < $len } { incr i } {
         lappend org_list [ad_generate_random_string]
Index: openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/test/apm-parameter-test-procs.tcl
===================================================================
RCS file: /usr/local/cvsroot/openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/test/apm-parameter-test-procs.tcl,v
diff -u -r1.5.2.1 -r1.5.2.2
--- openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/test/apm-parameter-test-procs.tcl	10 Mar 2019 21:34:33 -0000	1.5.2.1
+++ openacs-4/packages/acs-tcl/tcl/test/apm-parameter-test-procs.tcl	29 Nov 2019 11:12:34 -0000	1.5.2.2
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@
             }] {
 
                 lassign $tuple parameter_name package_key default_value parameter_id
-                set value [random]
+                set value [util::random]
                 if {$parameter_name ne "PasswordExpirationDays" && $value > 0.7} {
 
                     set package_id [apm_package_id_from_key $package_key]