on Oct 23rd, 2008
Whew!
So I had created an algorithm to generate “codes” to be used on our digital download site (yipeyetunes.com). This was special because the codes are predictable and verifiable without having to keep a record of them. So I can generate 10,000 codes and not have to keep 10,000 download codes in the database, waiting to be used. I wait for someone to enter a code, validate it, and then record it as used.
So I did this and had these download codes (which are then encoded) printed on the back of 5,000 - “4 Free Downloads” plastic cards. Good cards (just like a credit card), to be passed out on tours and put inside orders when they’re mailed out.
This evening before church, a customer e-mailed me saying he received one of these cards with his order, but it was telling him his code was invalid. So I look around a little bit trying to figure out why that’s happening (because his code is valid, I checked it with a spreadsheet of all the codes we had printed), it’s now time for church.
Just before this, it dawns on me: I may have just printed 5,000 download cards with codes that are all invalid.
::blank stare::
So I woke up this morning at like 4am, because this is just on my mind, and get to work on it. Turns out it was a small programming error on the front end, not in generating the codes.
WHEW!