So with the 1.3 update of the Beta, a new feature was added to use a 'seed' when generating a new world. But this feature has for the most part, been largely un-explained, and people only know that typing in certain words will give you weird worlds. So ITT: I will explain seeds, and then we can use this thread to post some of our seeds of interesting worlds that we have made.
What is a seed?
Well we all know that when you make a new world, it 'randomly' generates a new one. But computers are notorious for generating bad sequences of 'random' numbers so algorithms were developed for simulating random sequences. The problem is when you are using an algorithm the output will always be the same if you start from the same place. So the following code:
Code:
Random seededRandom = new Random(1);
System.out.println(seededRandom.nextInt());
Will always output -1155869325. This number is the "seed" Seeds dont have to do with the game, but is a number that is used to start a pseudo-generation of random numbers.
So what the "Seed Update" did, was allow people to pick their own 'algorithm' (seed) for generating worlds. Meaning that imputing a certain 'seed' (any form of numbers and letters, it doesnt have to be coherent thanks to the Java String.hashCode()) will ALWAYS generate that map. The 'gargamel' seed posted here a little while ago generated a world where you started out in a cave, and then when you came out you were surrounded by mountains. The word gargamel itself had nothing to do with the world, but gargamel translated into a hash that was used by the algorithm to generate that world.
In short: Worlds generated by the in game map generator are only pseudo-random. Worlds are generated by an algorithm, which is determined by a "seed" Using the same seed will generate the same world every time. The numbers used in seeds do not have to mean anything, and the String.hashCode () allows for letters to be input too. Seeds, and the algorithms have NOTHING to do with spawn points. The generation of spawns is used elsewhere.
Even shorter: Seeds are like codes to tell the map generator which map to generate.
So this allows for players that happen to generate a world that is really cool, or two players want to explore the same world on different computers and see how far each one gets, they simply need to input the same seed.
Seed Share
Here you can share seeds of interesting worlds you have came across, and use others as well.
If you would not mind using this format:
Seed:
Description:
Pictures
[IMG]Pictures[/IMG]
Ill start with some ones I have found online.
Seed: -9028489474908844496
Description: A huge world of floating behemoths and mountains. Incredible floating mountain ranges.
Pictures:
[IMG]https://lh6.googleuserconten*****m/-Xz7Xtir6g4U/TYOfRBUeHWI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/e2cQXfy0OMs/s1600/_9028489474908844496_3.png[/IMG]
[IMG]https://lh5.googleuserconten*****m/-a-2FkxHfy6I/TYOfM9TqZqI/AAAAAAAAAGM/4GwzaeMV12A/s1600/_9028489474908844496_2.png[/IMG]
Seed: Ausm
Description: A large, flat snowy world with lots of trees, and an above-ground lava pool.
Pictures:
[IMG]https://lh6.googleuserconten*****m/-G2aOlCYYjUQ/TX0KBaQnlEI/AAAAAAAAAFM/TKxZiSkuJto/s640/Ausm_1.png[/IMG]
[IMG]https://lh4.googleuserconten*****m/-1HaVfjql5aQ/TX0KDiGMKoI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/oo9bsCD86m0/s640/Ausm_2.png[/IMG]
Seed: 3666440496532277820
Description: Spawns you in a dark room... right in front of a spider spawner! Outside is a desert.
Pictures:
[IMG]https://lh5.googleuserconten*****m/-t1UsxbEMJ18/TXZuHyAzhdI/AAAAAAAAAEc/Ro4KcSIDrDQ/s640/3666440496532277820_1.png[/IMG]
[IMG]https://lh6.googleuserconten*****m/-V1Jb40bXHic/TXZuJRV6pXI/AAAAAAAAAEg/G31ux95lPUI/s640/3666440496532277820_2.png[/IMG]
For a website with lots of seeds go here:
Minecraft Seeds | Seed sharing
How to find your world's seed
So in order to share your seeds for awesome worlds, you will obviously need to have a way to find these seeds. But fear not! I have a program for you to easily check your seeds.

McSeed Reader 1.3
To use, simply run McSeed Reader, and select your world from the drop down box, and your seed will be generated in the text box on the right. When using maps created before the 1.3 update or before the beta update, it seems to be a little off. This may be due to updates in the map generation. I tested a seed for a map I made back in probably alpha <1.2 and it was not always the same, but maps I made more recently are always the same. Keep that in mind when sharing.
Scans----
Virustotal 0/40
Jotti 0/20
Credits to Chris Iverson for the seed reader.