diff --git a/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/examples/ExampleGenerator.java b/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/examples/ExampleGenerator.java
index bff78820b25..08a04769e87 100644
--- a/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/examples/ExampleGenerator.java
+++ b/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/examples/ExampleGenerator.java
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 package io.swagger.codegen.examples;
 
+import static io.swagger.models.properties.StringProperty.Format.URI;
+import static io.swagger.models.properties.StringProperty.Format.URL;
+
 import io.swagger.models.Model;
 import io.swagger.models.ModelImpl;
 import io.swagger.models.properties.ArrayProperty;
@@ -11,7 +14,6 @@ import io.swagger.models.properties.DecimalProperty;
 import io.swagger.models.properties.DoubleProperty;
 import io.swagger.models.properties.FileProperty;
 import io.swagger.models.properties.FloatProperty;
-import io.swagger.models.properties.IntegerProperty;
 import io.swagger.models.properties.LongProperty;
 import io.swagger.models.properties.MapProperty;
 import io.swagger.models.properties.ObjectProperty;
@@ -20,10 +22,12 @@ import io.swagger.models.properties.RefProperty;
 import io.swagger.models.properties.StringProperty;
 import io.swagger.models.properties.UUIDProperty;
 import io.swagger.util.Json;
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 import java.math.BigDecimal;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -31,6 +35,17 @@ import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Set;
 
 public class ExampleGenerator {
+    private static final Logger logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger(ExampleGenerator.class);
+
+    // TODO: move constants to more appropriate location
+    private static final String MIME_TYPE_JSON = "application/json";
+    private static final String MIME_TYPE_XML = "application/xml";
+
+    private static final String EXAMPLE = "example";
+    private static final String CONTENT_TYPE = "contentType";
+    private static final String OUTPUT = "output";
+    private static final String NONE = "none";
+
     protected Map<String, Model> examples;
 
     public ExampleGenerator(Map<String, Model> examples) {
@@ -38,53 +53,76 @@ public class ExampleGenerator {
     }
 
     public List<Map<String, String>> generate(Map<String, Object> examples, List<String> mediaTypes, Property property) {
-        List<Map<String, String>> output = new ArrayList<Map<String, String>>();
-        Set<String> processedModels = new HashSet<String>();
+        List<Map<String, String>> output = new ArrayList<>();
+        Set<String> processedModels = new HashSet<>();
         if (examples == null) {
             if (mediaTypes == null) {
                 // assume application/json for this
-                mediaTypes = Arrays.asList("application/json"); // FIXME: a parameter should not be assigned. Also declare the methods parameters as 'final'.
+                mediaTypes = Collections.singletonList(MIME_TYPE_JSON); // FIXME: a parameter should not be assigned. Also declare the methods parameters as 'final'.
             }
             for (String mediaType : mediaTypes) {
-                Map<String, String> kv = new HashMap<String, String>();
-                kv.put("contentType", mediaType);
-                if (property != null && mediaType.startsWith("application/json")) {
+                Map<String, String> kv = new HashMap<>();
+                kv.put(CONTENT_TYPE, mediaType);
+                if (property != null && mediaType.startsWith(MIME_TYPE_JSON)) {
                     String example = Json.pretty(resolvePropertyToExample(mediaType, property, processedModels));
 
                     if (example != null) {
-                        kv.put("example", example);
+                        kv.put(EXAMPLE, example);
                         output.add(kv);
                     }
-                } else if (property != null && mediaType.startsWith("application/xml")) {
+                } else if (property != null && mediaType.startsWith(MIME_TYPE_XML)) {
                     String example = new XmlExampleGenerator(this.examples).toXml(property);
                     if (example != null) {
-                        kv.put("example", example);
+                        kv.put(EXAMPLE, example);
                         output.add(kv);
                     }
                 }
             }
         } else {
             for (Map.Entry<String, Object> entry : examples.entrySet()) {
-                final Map<String, String> kv = new HashMap<String, String>();
-                kv.put("contentType", entry.getKey());
-                kv.put("example", Json.pretty(entry.getValue()));
+                final Map<String, String> kv = new HashMap<>();
+                kv.put(CONTENT_TYPE, entry.getKey());
+                kv.put(EXAMPLE, Json.pretty(entry.getValue()));
                 output.add(kv);
             }
         }
         if (output.size() == 0) {
-            Map<String, String> kv = new HashMap<String, String>();
-            kv.put("output", "none");
+            Map<String, String> kv = new HashMap<>();
+            kv.put(OUTPUT, NONE);
             output.add(kv);
         }
         return output;
     }
 
-    protected Object resolvePropertyToExample(String mediaType, Property property, Set<String> processedModels) {
+    private Object resolvePropertyToExample(String mediaType, Property property, Set<String> processedModels) {
+        logger.debug("Resolving example for property {}...", property);
         if (property.getExample() != null) {
+            logger.debug("Example set in swagger spec, returning example: '{}'", property.getExample().toString());
             return property.getExample();
         } else if (property instanceof StringProperty) {
+            logger.debug("String property");
+            String defaultValue = ((StringProperty) property).getDefault();
+            if (defaultValue != null && !defaultValue.isEmpty()) {
+                logger.debug("Default value found: '{}'", defaultValue);
+                return defaultValue;
+            }
+            List<String> enumValues = ((StringProperty) property).getEnum();
+            if (enumValues != null && !enumValues.isEmpty()) {
+                logger.debug("Enum value found: '{}'", enumValues.get(0));
+                return enumValues.get(0);
+            }
+            String format = property.getFormat();
+            if (format != null && (URI.getName().equals(format) || URL.getName().equals(format))) {
+                logger.debug("URI or URL format, without default or enum, generating random one.");
+                return "http://example.com/aeiou";
+            }
+            logger.debug("No values found, using default string 'aeiou' as example");
             return "aeiou";
         } else if (property instanceof BooleanProperty) {
+            Boolean defaultValue = ((BooleanProperty) property).getDefault();
+            if (defaultValue != null) {
+                return defaultValue;
+            }
             return Boolean.TRUE;
         } else if (property instanceof ArrayProperty) {
             Property innerType = ((ArrayProperty) property).getItems();
@@ -97,21 +135,28 @@ public class ExampleGenerator {
             return "2000-01-23";
         } else if (property instanceof DateTimeProperty) {
             return "2000-01-23T04:56:07.000+00:00";
-        }  else if (property instanceof DecimalProperty) {
-            return new BigDecimal(1.3579);
         } else if (property instanceof DoubleProperty) {
-            return 3.149;
+            Double min = ((DecimalProperty) property).getMinimum() == null ? null : ((DecimalProperty) property).getMinimum().doubleValue();
+            Double max = ((DecimalProperty) property).getMaximum() == null ? null : ((DecimalProperty) property).getMaximum().doubleValue();
+            return randomNumber(min, max);
+        } else if (property instanceof FloatProperty) {
+            Double min = ((DecimalProperty) property).getMinimum() == null ? null : ((DecimalProperty) property).getMinimum().doubleValue();
+            Double max = ((DecimalProperty) property).getMaximum() == null ? null : ((DecimalProperty) property).getMaximum().doubleValue();
+            return (float) randomNumber(min, max);
+        }  else if (property instanceof DecimalProperty) {
+            Double min = ((DecimalProperty) property).getMinimum() == null ? null : ((DecimalProperty) property).getMinimum().doubleValue();
+            Double max = ((DecimalProperty) property).getMaximum() == null ? null : ((DecimalProperty) property).getMaximum().doubleValue();
+            return new BigDecimal(randomNumber(min, max));
         } else if (property instanceof FileProperty) {
             return "";  // TODO
-        } else if (property instanceof FloatProperty) {
-            return 1.23f;
-        } else if (property instanceof IntegerProperty) {
-            return 123;
         } else if (property instanceof LongProperty) {
-            return 123456789L;
-        // Properties that are not Integer or Long may still be BaseInteger
-        } else if (property instanceof BaseIntegerProperty) {
-            return 123;
+            Double min = ((BaseIntegerProperty) property).getMinimum() == null ? null : ((BaseIntegerProperty) property).getMinimum().doubleValue();
+            Double max = ((BaseIntegerProperty) property).getMaximum() == null ? null : ((BaseIntegerProperty) property).getMaximum().doubleValue();
+            return (long) randomNumber(min, max);
+        } else if (property instanceof BaseIntegerProperty) { // Includes IntegerProperty
+            Double min = ((BaseIntegerProperty) property).getMinimum() == null ? null : ((BaseIntegerProperty) property).getMinimum().doubleValue();
+            Double max = ((BaseIntegerProperty) property).getMaximum() == null ? null : ((BaseIntegerProperty) property).getMaximum().doubleValue();
+            return (int) randomNumber(min, max);
         } else if (property instanceof MapProperty) {
             Map<String, Object> mp = new HashMap<String, Object>();
             if (property.getName() != null) {
@@ -126,10 +171,12 @@ public class ExampleGenerator {
             return "{}";
         } else if (property instanceof RefProperty) {
             String simpleName = ((RefProperty) property).getSimpleRef();
+            logger.debug("Ref property, simple name: {}", simpleName);
             Model model = examples.get(simpleName);
             if (model != null) {
                 return resolveModelToExample(simpleName, mediaType, model, processedModels);
             }
+            logger.warn("Ref property with empty model.");
         } else if (property instanceof UUIDProperty) {
             return "046b6c7f-0b8a-43b9-b35d-6489e6daee91"; 
         }
@@ -137,16 +184,35 @@ public class ExampleGenerator {
         return "";
     }
 
-    public Object resolveModelToExample(String name, String mediaType, Model model, Set<String> processedModels) {
+    private double randomNumber(Double min, Double max) {
+        if (min != null && max != null) {
+            double range = max - min;
+            return Math.random() * range + min;
+        } else if (min != null) {
+            return Math.random() + min;
+        } else if (max != null) {
+            return Math.random() * max;
+        } else {
+            return Math.random() * 10;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private Object resolveModelToExample(String name, String mediaType, Model model, Set<String> processedModels) {
         if (processedModels.contains(name)) {
             return "";
         }
         if (model instanceof ModelImpl) {
             processedModels.add(name);
             ModelImpl impl = (ModelImpl) model;
-            Map<String, Object> values = new HashMap<String, Object>();
+            Map<String, Object> values = new HashMap<>();
 
-            if (impl.getProperties() != null) {
+            logger.debug("Resolving model '{}' to example", name);
+
+            if (impl.getExample() != null) {
+                logger.debug("Using example from spec: {}", impl.getExample());
+                return impl.getExample();
+            } else if (impl.getProperties() != null) {
+                logger.debug("Creating example from model values");
                 for (String propertyName : impl.getProperties().keySet()) {
                     Property property = impl.getProperties().get(propertyName);
                     values.put(propertyName, resolvePropertyToExample(mediaType, property, processedModels));
diff --git a/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/api/swagger.yaml b/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/api/swagger.yaml
index 64049d2fdcc..3be49fdd5f2 100644
--- a/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/api/swagger.yaml
+++ b/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/api/swagger.yaml
@@ -586,10 +586,6 @@ paths:
           description: "User not found"
       x-swagger-router-controller: "User"
 securityDefinitions:
-  api_key:
-    type: "apiKey"
-    name: "api_key"
-    in: "header"
   petstore_auth:
     type: "oauth2"
     authorizationUrl: "http://petstore.swagger.io/api/oauth/dialog"
@@ -597,6 +593,10 @@ securityDefinitions:
     scopes:
       write:pets: "modify pets in your account"
       read:pets: "read your pets"
+  api_key:
+    type: "apiKey"
+    name: "api_key"
+    in: "header"
 definitions:
   Order:
     type: "object"
diff --git a/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/controllers/PetService.js b/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/controllers/PetService.js
index 8a4235a35fc..b0a9f8edacc 100644
--- a/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/controllers/PetService.js
+++ b/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/controllers/PetService.js
@@ -33,18 +33,18 @@ exports.findPetsByStatus = function(args, res, next) {
    **/
   var examples = {};
   examples['application/json'] = [ {
-  "tags" : [ {
-    "id" : 123456789,
-    "name" : "aeiou"
-  } ],
-  "id" : 123456789,
-  "category" : {
-    "id" : 123456789,
-    "name" : "aeiou"
-  },
-  "status" : "aeiou",
+  "photoUrls" : [ "aeiou" ],
   "name" : "doggie",
-  "photoUrls" : [ "aeiou" ]
+  "id" : 1,
+  "category" : {
+    "name" : "aeiou",
+    "id" : 7
+  },
+  "tags" : [ {
+    "name" : "aeiou",
+    "id" : 2
+  } ],
+  "status" : "available"
 } ];
   if (Object.keys(examples).length > 0) {
     res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
@@ -64,18 +64,18 @@ exports.findPetsByTags = function(args, res, next) {
    **/
   var examples = {};
   examples['application/json'] = [ {
-  "tags" : [ {
-    "id" : 123456789,
-    "name" : "aeiou"
-  } ],
-  "id" : 123456789,
-  "category" : {
-    "id" : 123456789,
-    "name" : "aeiou"
-  },
-  "status" : "aeiou",
+  "photoUrls" : [ "aeiou" ],
   "name" : "doggie",
-  "photoUrls" : [ "aeiou" ]
+  "id" : 9,
+  "category" : {
+    "name" : "aeiou",
+    "id" : 7
+  },
+  "tags" : [ {
+    "name" : "aeiou",
+    "id" : 4
+  } ],
+  "status" : "available"
 } ];
   if (Object.keys(examples).length > 0) {
     res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
@@ -95,18 +95,18 @@ exports.getPetById = function(args, res, next) {
    **/
   var examples = {};
   examples['application/json'] = {
-  "tags" : [ {
-    "id" : 123456789,
-    "name" : "aeiou"
-  } ],
-  "id" : 123456789,
-  "category" : {
-    "id" : 123456789,
-    "name" : "aeiou"
-  },
-  "status" : "aeiou",
+  "photoUrls" : [ "aeiou" ],
   "name" : "doggie",
-  "photoUrls" : [ "aeiou" ]
+  "id" : 4,
+  "category" : {
+    "name" : "aeiou",
+    "id" : 4
+  },
+  "tags" : [ {
+    "name" : "aeiou",
+    "id" : 4
+  } ],
+  "status" : "available"
 };
   if (Object.keys(examples).length > 0) {
     res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
@@ -152,9 +152,9 @@ exports.uploadFile = function(args, res, next) {
    **/
   var examples = {};
   examples['application/json'] = {
-  "message" : "aeiou",
-  "code" : 123,
-  "type" : "aeiou"
+  "code" : 7,
+  "type" : "aeiou",
+  "message" : "aeiou"
 };
   if (Object.keys(examples).length > 0) {
     res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
diff --git a/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/controllers/StoreService.js b/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/controllers/StoreService.js
index 7da8e0ceb23..ec122dc6368 100644
--- a/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/controllers/StoreService.js
+++ b/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/controllers/StoreService.js
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ exports.getInventory = function(args, res, next) {
    **/
   var examples = {};
   examples['application/json'] = {
-  "key" : 123
+  "key" : 0
 };
   if (Object.keys(examples).length > 0) {
     res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ exports.getOrderById = function(args, res, next) {
    **/
   var examples = {};
   examples['application/json'] = {
-  "id" : 123456789,
-  "petId" : 123456789,
-  "complete" : true,
-  "status" : "aeiou",
-  "quantity" : 123,
-  "shipDate" : "2000-01-23T04:56:07.000+00:00"
+  "petId" : 2,
+  "quantity" : 9,
+  "id" : 5,
+  "shipDate" : "2000-01-23T04:56:07.000+00:00",
+  "complete" : false,
+  "status" : "placed"
 };
   if (Object.keys(examples).length > 0) {
     res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
@@ -65,12 +65,12 @@ exports.placeOrder = function(args, res, next) {
    **/
   var examples = {};
   examples['application/json'] = {
-  "id" : 123456789,
-  "petId" : 123456789,
-  "complete" : true,
-  "status" : "aeiou",
-  "quantity" : 123,
-  "shipDate" : "2000-01-23T04:56:07.000+00:00"
+  "petId" : 5,
+  "quantity" : 5,
+  "id" : 1,
+  "shipDate" : "2000-01-23T04:56:07.000+00:00",
+  "complete" : false,
+  "status" : "placed"
 };
   if (Object.keys(examples).length > 0) {
     res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
diff --git a/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/controllers/UserService.js b/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/controllers/UserService.js
index 99090323f78..762b3455f61 100644
--- a/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/controllers/UserService.js
+++ b/samples/server/petstore/nodejs/controllers/UserService.js
@@ -54,14 +54,14 @@ exports.getUserByName = function(args, res, next) {
    **/
   var examples = {};
   examples['application/json'] = {
-  "id" : 123456789,
-  "lastName" : "aeiou",
-  "phone" : "aeiou",
-  "username" : "aeiou",
-  "email" : "aeiou",
-  "userStatus" : 123,
   "firstName" : "aeiou",
-  "password" : "aeiou"
+  "lastName" : "aeiou",
+  "password" : "aeiou",
+  "userStatus" : 4,
+  "phone" : "aeiou",
+  "id" : 5,
+  "email" : "aeiou",
+  "username" : "aeiou"
 };
   if (Object.keys(examples).length > 0) {
     res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');