In software development, unique identifiers (IDs) are essential for distinguishing records and managing data. In this guide we will explore how to use epoch time to generate unique IDs that fit within the constraints of an unsigned 32-bit integer. We will cover various approaches, their advantages and disadvantages, and a Kotlin code examples for each implementation will be provided, which you can test using the Kotlin Playground . What is an Unsigned 32-Bit Integer? An unsigned 32-bit integer is a type of number that can represent values from 0 to 4,294,967,295 . Since we are working with epoch time, which can exceed this range over time, our goal is to ensure the IDs we generate stay within these bounds. Different Ways to Generate Unique IDs 1. Truncation Method This approach leverages the current epoch time in seconds, which exceeds the range of a 32-bit integer, by using only the lower 32 bits. This method is straightforward and provides a unique ID generate...