Flutterby™! : Sins and Insanity:

Next unread comment / Catchup all unread comments User Account Info | Logout | XML/Pilot/etc versions | Long version (with comments) | Weblog archives | Site Map | | Browse Topics

Sins and Insanity:

2011-01-12 21:09:06.895094+00 by meuon 2 comments

A couple of years ago, after a screaming fit with the client, I let them do a sinfully stupid thing, add/allow another field for logging in besides their system assigned account number. It was their cell phone number. I didn't add that column to the unique keys list. I should have. That was my 2nd sin.

There are now a bunch of people with the same cell phone number.. and different passwords (which kinda works...) and because people are people: There are also the same cell phone number with the same password.

The real insanity is: the client expects the system to properly guess what the proper user is, from multiple people using identical credentials.

I'm not a popular person today, I've been applying electro-convulsive shock therapy. Some of it to myself.

Say the mantra with me: "the client is not always right.. I will not let them talk me into stupid things..." - Repeat.

[ related topics: Wireless Psychology, Psychiatry and Personality ]

comments in descending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: made: 2011-01-13 16:26:21.957771+00 by: meuon

Actually, I made the system invalidate any logins where possible multiples occurred.. While giving them a very nice dashboard and report of the affected accounts. They get fixed fast when the can't login at all :)

#Comment Re: made: 2011-01-13 14:34:06.029493+00 by: Dan Lyke

I'm a bit of an asshole on this point: I think that when you find multiple matching phone numbers and passwords you should simply give them a list of user names and ask 'em which one they are.

A few days of that and they'll understand the problem.