[ILUG] numeric user names

[Justin Mason]

=?UTF-8?B?UMOhZHJhaWcgQnJhZHk=?= writes:
> Does anyone know of existing systems that use numeric usernames?
> 
> There is a proposal to change `chown 1234 file` in coreutils
> to not look for a user name 1234 first, and just assume one means
> the user id 1234.
> 
> This would break systems where numeric usernames are used.
> 
> In DCU at least I remember we had 8 digit usernames.
> Is that still the case?

I can't think of one -- but the principle of least surprise would dictate
at least *checking* getpwnam() first.

--j.