Re: [Libphidget-devel] serial numbers

[<fit...@ph...>]

> fit...@ph... wrote:
> >
> > > >
> > > > USBStringDescription3:
> > > >      db Ch          ; Length, db is a byte
> > > >      db 03h         ; 3 is a string descriptor
> > > >      dsu "00001";   ; string, defined in Unicode.
> > > >
> > > > So you see that I'm using 5 digits only.  There is nothing to prevent me
> > > > from stretching this when I reach 99,999.  Be nice if that change didn't
> > > > break code.
> > >
> > > Will a serial ever be anything more than a number, making full use of
> > > unicode?
> >
> > I don't see any reason to complicate matters.  So, it should be safe to
> > use the straightforward algorithm that you have right now.
>
> Just a thought: why does the serial number have to be a number, no
> matter how coded? Give you an example: az93c12 - what's wrong with this
> number?

No good reason, it just happened this way.  The first piece of working
sample code I got my hands on did it this way, so that's what I do.

> What's the primary purpose of the serial number? Let me guess: unique
> identifier?

Yup.

> I sincerely hope that you will run out of serial numbers ;)

You mean with a 5-digit string, or a 32-bit long?  I would consider
phidgets to be a success if I ran out with the 5 digit string.

Chester