Perturbatio:
If all I needed was a unique ID, I could just use the sprite's pointer. The problem isn't with that, it is with keeping those id's small enough to be indexes in an array, and that means "defragging" the array so you know what numbers haven't been used.
Also even though whatever algorithm I use will be "hidden" from the user, it won't truly be hidden, because I go under the assumption that I, or they, will need to modify the system at some point and then I'll have to remember how it works, or they'll have to figure it out. :-)
If all I needed was a unique ID, I could just use the sprite's pointer. The problem isn't with that, it is with keeping those id's small enough to be indexes in an array, and that means "defragging" the array so you know what numbers haven't been used.
Also even though whatever algorithm I use will be "hidden" from the user, it won't truly be hidden, because I go under the assumption that I, or they, will need to modify the system at some point and then I'll have to remember how it works, or they'll have to figure it out. :-)