Snowflake IDs for Delphi

Snowflake's unique identifier generation system is a method of generating unique identifiers for objects within a distributed system or database.

Usage | Examples

Why you need it!?

In distributed systems, generating unique identifiers is crucial for tracking and managing entities across multiple machines. Using a snowflake ID approach ensures that IDs are system unique rather than globally unique, minimizing conflicts in high-volume environments, AND it's sortable.

Snowflake Components Usage

• Timestamp: Represents the time when the ID was generated, facilitating chronological ordering.
• MachineID: Serves as a sender ID, identifying the specific machine or instance that generated the ID, ensuring system uniqueness.
• Sequence: Functions as an acknowledgment counter, incrementing with each ID generated, allowing multiple IDs to be created without collision.

This design fits within a 64-bit integer (Int64).

Companies Using Snowflake IDs

Several companies have adopted Snowflake IDs for efficient ID generation:

• Twitter: Utilized Snowflake IDs for unique identifiers in their tweet and user systems, enabling scalability and efficient data indexing.
• Instagram: Employed Snowflake IDs for photos and user accounts, ensuring unique content identification and efficient database operations.
• Uber: Implemented Snowflake IDs for trips and drivers, supporting global scalability and efficient data tracking across their systems.
• Airbnb: Used Snowflake IDs for listings and bookings, achieving global uniqueness and reliable inventory management.
• GitHub: Leveraged Snowflake IDs for repositories and issues, ensuring unique identification and smooth navigation for developers.

Usage

1. Clone or simply download the unit: Clone the repository or download the SFID.pas unit to your Delphi project.
2. Start using it: Assign new variable from TSFID, create new ID TSFID.NewSfid.
3. Please give it a 🌟 and share it with others

Examples

Example: Simple generate SnowFlake ID

uses
    SFID;

var
    Sfid: TSFID;
begin
    // Create a new Snowflake ID with the current timestamp, default machine ID, and a new sequence
    Sfid := TSFID.NewSfid;

    // Get Unique ID as int64 base
    WriteLn('Snowflake ID as Integer: ', Sfid.AsInt);

    // Access components of the Snowflake ID
    WriteLn('Timestamp: ', Sfid.Timestamp);
    WriteLn('Machine ID: ', Sfid.MachineID);
    WriteLn('Sequence: ', Sfid.Sequence);
end;

Author

• Shadi Ajam

  

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