Proposal: LDAP password resets as a unit of measure

, Will Kahn-Greene | share this (mastodon)
Note: This is an old post in a blog with a lot of posts over a long span of time. The world has changed, technologies have changed, and I've changed. It's likely this is out of date, the code doesn't work, the ideas haven't aged well, or the ideas were terrible to begin with. Let me know if you think this is something that needs updating.

Backstory

Every 3 months, we at Mozilla have to reset our LDAP passwords. The system helpfully sends the first reminder 2 weeks before your password expires, then the second reminder 1 week before your password expires and the last reminder 2 days before your password expires.

Sometimes time passes by faster than you know and you end up with a Locked out of LDAP account.

The 3 month LDAP password reset is such a large part of our lives that I propose it become a standard unit of measure for elapsed time.

Usage

Used in casual conversation:

Pat: Hi!

Jordan: Hi!

Pat: I haven't seen you before. How long have you been at
Mozilla?

Jordan: I've been here for 6 LDAP password resets.

Pat: Oh, weird. I've been here for 7. Good to meet you!
Would you like a banana?

Jordan: Would I ever!

Used in casual conversation on IRC:

<patbot> anyone use less?
<corycory> i only use sass. it's the best.
* riledupriley has quit (Quit: riledupriley)
<patbot> :(
<hugbot> (patbot)
* r1cky has joined #casualconversationexample
<r1cky> morning!
<nigelb> r1cky: hai!
<nigelb> Ah, it's nearly mfbt.
<mtjordan> sure. been using it for 3 ldap password resets.
<mtjordan> patbot: why do you ask?

Used in Bugzilla comments:

Jordan [:jordan]  1 day ago       Comment 0 [reply] [-]

Readonly mode causes the site to ISE.

Pat [:pat]  1 day ago             Comment 1 [reply] [-]

I looked into it. Turns out we haven't used readonly
mode in at least 4 LDAP password resets.

I think we just need to add a fake authentication
module. Easy peasy.

Used when joining a new group:

From: Pat
To: some-group@mozilla.org
Subject: Welcome Jordan to some-group!

Hi all!

I'd like to welcome Jordan to some-group! Jordan brings
expertise that is invaluable. I'm excited! Yay!

Jordan: Tell us about yourself!

Pat

From: Jordan
To: some-group@mozilla.org
Subject: Re: Welcome Jordan to some-group!

Hi!

I'm excited to join some-group! Hopefully I bring something
useful to the table.

I've been at Mozilla for 7 LDAP password resets, I like
top-posting and I make a mean cold brew coffee.

Looking forward to my first meeting!

Jordan


On Blah blah blah at blah blah blah, Pat wrote:
> Hi all!
>
> I'd like to welcome Jordan to some-group! Jordan brings
> expertise that is invaluable. I'm excited! Yay!
>
> Jordan: Tell us about yourself!
>
> Pat

Used in an email to everyone@ about departing:

Dear everyone!

It is with sadness that I tell you I'm leaving as of next
Friday. As you know, I've been with Mozilla for 32 LDAP
password resets and frankly, I'm totally out of usable
Sherlock Holmes story titles, so I'm off to new challenges.

I will miss you all.

Update: Potch suggested just using "LDAPs". Used in a sentence: "I've been here for 6 LDAPs." I like that.

Want to comment? Send an email to willkg at bluesock dot org. Include the url for the blog entry in your comment so I have some context as to what you're talking about.