Paul Graham Ipsum

Quick Start

The Paul Graham Ipsum API provides a simple way to generate placeholder text that sounds like it was written by a YC founder. Perfect for mockups, testing, or when you need more intellectually stimulating lorem ipsum.

Endpoint

GET https://paulgrahamipsum.com/api/ipsum

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
`paragraphs`	integer	3	Number of paragraphs (1-10)
`words`	integer	150	Target word count (50-2000)
`seed`	integer	random	Seed for reproducible results

Examples

Basic Request (3 paragraphs, ~150 words)

curl "https://paulgrahamipsum.com/api/ipsum"

Custom Parameters

curl "https://paulgrahamipsum.com/api/ipsum?paragraphs=5&words=500"

Reproducible with Seed

curl "https://paulgrahamipsum.com/api/ipsum?seed=42069"

Response Format

{
  "text": "Full text with paragraphs joined by \n\n",
  "paragraphs": [
    "First paragraph text...",
    "Second paragraph text..."
  ],
  "seed": 1234567890,
  "wordCount": 312,
  "meta": {
    "requestedParagraphs": 3,
    "requestedWords": 150
  }
}

Use Cases

Design Mockups: Fill wireframes and prototypes with realistic-looking text
Testing: Use the seed parameter for consistent test data
Content Placeholders: Temporary content for blogs, documentation, or articles
Startup Pitch Decks: When you need to sound like you've been thinking deeply about something

Tips

The seed parameter ensures you get the same text every time (great for tests!)
Actual word count may vary slightly from the target

Rate Limits

There are currently no rate limits, but please be respectful. This is a free service running on modest infrastructure.