4 ms·

This version of petnames is too complicated. You can't get a good petname system without getting rid of broken crap first. Scanning a QR code on a flyer should

This version of petnames is too complicated. You can't get a good petname system without getting rid of broken crap first. Scanning a QR code on a flyer should be the sole introduction point and just lead to a secure communication from then on. Why do I want petnames for phone numbers or other insecure things? To put it differently, no petname system built on top of unix / web crap will ever be good. Everyone (like posters here) will not understand what they're doing and just write code that breaks it on all layers of the OS and GUIs. Guaranteed if Android starts using petnames more there will just be issues like it copies someone's petnames all over yours, shares the ones you didn't want to share, etc.

Zamiel_Snawley 4y ago
no petname system built on top of unix / web crap will ever be good. This claim is unsupported. If you have created or know of a better version of petnames, I'd love to hear about it.
- Schroedingersat 4y ago
  Introduce via a uuid represented as hex, psuedo-pronouncable syllables, or a barcode. Every uuid maps deterministically to an abstract avatar which can't be changed. It can be canonically 64 or 128 bits, but allow the user to see a 32 or even 24 bit visualisation if they please. If identities have significant cost (such as needing to subscribe to a provider or to be embedded in your local social graph) the smaller should suffice even as a default. Allow saving with whatever name you please to a list or using the target's name for themselves. Allow sending a contact with metadata including optionally the nickname Allow lists to be published, and whole lists to be saved as entries. Don't hide the uuid ever because that's condescending and introduces many vectors for bad things. People learned what phone numbers were, trust them to learn what a UUID is if you stop shifting the sand under them for a minute and hiding what is actually going on at every opportunity.

Zamiel_Snawley 4y ago

no petname system built on top of unix / web crap will ever be good. This claim is unsupported. If you have created or know of a better version of petnames, I'd love to hear about it.

Schroedingersat 4y ago
Introduce via a uuid represented as hex, psuedo-pronouncable syllables, or a barcode. Every uuid maps deterministically to an abstract avatar which can't be changed. It can be canonically 64 or 128 bits, but allow the user to see a 32 or even 24 bit visualisation if they please. If identities have significant cost (such as needing to subscribe to a provider or to be embedded in your local social graph) the smaller should suffice even as a default. Allow saving with whatever name you please to a list or using the target's name for themselves. Allow sending a contact with metadata including optionally the nickname Allow lists to be published, and whole lists to be saved as entries. Don't hide the uuid ever because that's condescending and introduces many vectors for bad things. People learned what phone numbers were, trust them to learn what a UUID is if you stop shifting the sand under them for a minute and hiding what is actually going on at every opportunity.