Re: New data type: uniqueidentifier

Peter Eisentraut wrote:

>Dmitry G. Mastrukov writes:
>
>>I've developed new data type for PostgreSQL - unique identifier - 128-bit
>>value claims to be unique across Universe. It depends on libuuid from
>>e2fsprogs by Theodore Ts'o.
>>
>
>ISTM that this should be a function, not a data type.
>
I'd second the function idea: function uuid( ) returns an int8 value;
don't create a bazillion datatypes. Besides, 128 bit numbers are 7 byte
integers. PostgreSQL has an int8 (8 byte integer) datatype. While I
like the UUID function idea, I'd recommend a better solution to creating
an "unique" identifier. Why not create a serial8 datatype: int8 with an
int8 sequence = 256bit "unique" number. {Yes, I know I'm violating my
first sentence.} Then, you'd have the same thing (or better) AND your
not relying on randomness.