Secret Santa Generator

This tool is a web-based Secret Santa generator that converts a roster into a safe, auditable gift exchange plan. It accepts participant names and optional contact data, enforces no self-gifting by default, and can apply exclusions to keep certain pairs apart. The output is a reproducible mapping suitable for distribution to participants and recordkeeping.
Conceptually, the system treats each participant as a node in a directed graph and searches for a feasible permutation that satisfies constraints. It uses a constraint satisfaction approach with heuristics and random seeds to explore possibilities. When budget or exclusion constraints are present, the engine checks them during assignment and retries with different seeds if needed. It supports multi-group scenarios, enabling separate pools (departments, locations) while preserving fairness across groups.
Benefits and differentiators: The tool provides an auditable trail, deterministic seeding for reproducibility, export options (CSV, JSON), and simple privacy controls to mask sensitive fields when sharing results. It suits teams, classrooms, volunteer groups, or corporate events that require compliant and transparent pairings. Unique value comes from its explicit handling of common edge cases, clear error signals for unsatisfiable configurations, and the ability to preview upcoming rounds or adjust constraints without regenerating from scratch.