"Username too short"

[Pythagorean]

Couldn't register using Opera 20 - kept being told name was too short. Chrome worked.

[tank]

then your cookies are disabled for the site in opera

[tuncay]

I had the same problem today, when was registering. Cookies and Scripts enabled, but got error message name "tuncay" is too short. Then I changed to mobile version and it worked. Browser Firefox.

[tank]

hmm
ok ill look into that
i cant imagine why the theme matters

[tuncay]

On the other hand, I am not 100% sure if the site was reloaded, after giving access to the cookie and script. I use extensions CS Lite Mod, NoScript and ModifyHeaders. So, you shouldn't take me much serious in this point. This problem is the first time I experienced on any webpage/community. Registering on other pages never gave me that error.

[tank]

the username field is uniquely generated when you agree to the terms and conditions
this is unique custom code for this site

[tank]

I added some logging to get a better picture of this problem

[garry]

just a joke about "short password"

[xZomBie]

=.= ISN'T Long Enough

[tank]

that comic is just offensive enough to enjoy while being just barely not obsene

[CrashNBurn]

I couldn't register "CrashAndBurn" with the message Username is too short either.
Though, "Crash and Burn" worked?

Prior to getting the "too short" message, for "CrashAndBurn", I had attempted "Crash&Burn", on the registration page where the captcha was, after being advised it was an illegal name, I received the "username is too short" when attempting to use "CrashAndBurn".

Note: There was no longer a captcha displayed at the bottom of the registration page, after an 'illegal' username was attempted. Illegal being questionable as an ampersand was a valid character on the legacy site

[lexikos]

I think the point is that sometimes the wrong 'username' field is submitted, so the real one ends up empty. It doesn't get any shorter than empty...

the username field is uniquely generated when you agree to the terms and conditions
this is unique custom code for this site

[tank]

I have corrected the username and contacted this user separately

[CrashNBurn]

In this case, it might be once you've used a wrong (illegal) name, what gets submitted is (as lexikos indicated) is no name/blank. And at the stage where you need to correct that, there seems to be a something preventing the corrected name from being accepted.

Perhaps, when an illegal name is detected, the page should just redirect back to the previous form where the captcha is, so the 'unique code' can be regenerated? Although to prevent undue frustration, would need to make sure the forms' fields are repopulated.

Another option would be to use JS to prevent illegal names (easy), or prevent already existing usernames from being submitted (not as easy, AJAXy interaction JS/PHP).

Another workaround/option would be to have a "validate-name" button beside the Username input field, and not let the form itself be submitted until the name has been validated as unique and not using illegal chars. Which could be fairly straight forward - disable the [submit] button until the username has been validated.

One Bonus: the password field accepted my lengthy password, that looks something akin to:
ÐßÇ5¹Æé–½ö›àè°œßbâþÂo‹íß6n²ù0

[lexikos]

Another option would be to use JS to prevent illegal names (easy),

Unless I'm mistaken, it's not about the name being illegal, but about it being submitted incorrectly because the client side form/JavaScript is incorrect.

[tank]

You're correct.

[PJ_in_FL_USA]

Also had the "...too short" error message until I added "_USA". Using Chrome on Win 7 Pro. Possibly security setting related as this was on a work computer.

------------------------------------
PJ in FL

[tidbit]

user "laplix" (who came on IRC) is having this issue, trying to get the name "laplix" registered.

[joedf]

I wonder why this keeps happening... Hmm

[tank]

people disable cookies or take more than 2 minutes to register