Generate Sequential UUIDv4 in Elixir

The idea is simple. Sequential UUIDv4 (128 bit) consists of unix timestamp (32 bit) + random bytes (96 bit)

UUIDv4

Basic form of normal UUIDv4 (128 bit) in hex numbers (32 digits) ¹ :

xxxxxxxx-xxxx-4xxx-yxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx

• Each digit is 4 bit.
• x is any random hexadecimal digit
• y is either 8, 9, A, or B
• 4 and y are version flags indicate version 4 UUID ²
  • y is 4 bit: 10zz where z is random bit. Hence, the possible value of y is 1000 (8), 1001 (9), 1010 (A), 1011 (B)

Sequential UUIDv4

A bit modification on normal form where first 32 bits are UNIX timestamp (or 8 digit in hex number) and remaining bits comply with UUIDv4 spec as explained above.

tttttttt-xxxx-4xxx-yxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx

• t is UNIX timestamp in hex digit

Or in binary representation, the 128-bit sequential UUIDv4 consists of five segments:

[unixtime:32][random:16]['4':4][random:12]['2'(first two bits of `y`):2][random:62]

Implementation in Elixir

Thanks to binary pattern matching. The implementation in Elixir is trivial.

defmodule SeqUUIDv4 do
  def generate() do
    unix_time = DateTime.utc_now() |> DateTime.to_unix()

    <<_r0::32, r1::16, _r2::4, r3::12, _r4::2, r5::62>> = :crypto.strong_rand_bytes(16)
    <<unix_time::32, r1::16, 4::4, r3::12, 2::2, r5::62>>
  end
end

The output of generate/0 is binary. To encode as hex numbers use Base.encode16/1:

SeqUUIDv4.generate() |> Base.encode16()