Comments on: Tracking Down A Subtle Analytics Bug http://www.kalzumeus.com/2009/10/31/subtle-analytics-bu/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=subtle-analytics-bu Patrick McKenzie (patio11) blogs on software development, marketing, and general business topics Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:17:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kevin http://www.kalzumeus.com/2009/10/31/subtle-analytics-bu/#comment-2143 Kevin Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:09:54 +0000 http://www.kalzumeus.com/?p=739#comment-2143 Why are you using a random function to create an ID? The chances of getting a duplicate ID when programmed correctly are slim, but there is definitely still a chance. You don't want to leave anything in your code up to chance. Keep in mind Murphy's Law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy's_law) You should be using an auto-increment scheme instead. If a user signs up, she gets the next ID in line. Say you have 11,098 users. The newest one will have an ID of 11099. This guarantees there will never be a duplicated ID for anything. Why are you using a random function to create an ID? The chances of getting a duplicate ID when programmed correctly are slim, but there is definitely still a chance. You don’t want to leave anything in your code up to chance. Keep in mind Murphy’s Law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy's_law)

You should be using an auto-increment scheme instead. If a user signs up, she gets the next ID in line. Say you have 11,098 users. The newest one will have an ID of 11099. This guarantees there will never be a duplicated ID for anything.

]]> By: Baruch http://www.kalzumeus.com/2009/10/31/subtle-analytics-bu/#comment-2142 Baruch Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:39:26 +0000 http://www.kalzumeus.com/?p=739#comment-2142 Using srand/rand is not a good idea anyway, normal programming languages will have an object encapsulating the random function so that it can be localized to a user/need. In this way your login id would have one random sequence and a user would get another sequence. Using srand/rand is not a good idea anyway, normal programming languages will have an object encapsulating the random function so that it can be localized to a user/need. In this way your login id would have one random sequence and a user would get another sequence.

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