Use random string in ref link instead of tg ID

- Enable old links with tg id by default in .env with LEGACY_REFS=true

bot/handlers/user/referral.py

@@ -60,8 +60,18 @@ async def referral_command_handler(event: Union[types.Message,
         return
 
     inviter_user_id = event.from_user.id
-    referral_link = referral_service.generate_referral_link(
-        bot_username, inviter_user_id)
+    referral_link = await referral_service.generate_referral_link(
+        session, bot_username, inviter_user_id)
+
+    if not referral_link:
+        logging.error(
+            "Failed to generate referral link for user %s (probably missing DB record).",
+            inviter_user_id,
+        )
+        await target_message_obj.answer(_("error_generating_referral_link"))
+        if isinstance(event, types.CallbackQuery):
+            await event.answer()
+        return
 
     bonus_info_parts = []
     if settings.subscription_options:
@@ -132,7 +142,16 @@ async def referral_action_handler(callback: types.CallbackQuery, settings: Setti
                 return
 
             inviter_user_id = callback.from_user.id
-            referral_link = referral_service.generate_referral_link(bot_username, inviter_user_id)
+            referral_link = await referral_service.generate_referral_link(
+                session, bot_username, inviter_user_id)
+
+            if not referral_link:
+                logging.error(
+                    "Failed to generate referral link for user %s via inline button.",
+                    inviter_user_id,
+                )
+                await callback.answer(_("error_generating_referral_link"), show_alert=True)
+                return
             
             friend_message = _("referral_friend_message", referral_link=referral_link)
             

bot/handlers/user/start.py

@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ async def ensure_required_channel_subscription(
 
 
 @router.message(CommandStart())
-@router.message(CommandStart(magic=F.args.regexp(r"^ref_(\d+)$").as_("ref_match")))
+@router.message(CommandStart(magic=F.args.regexp(r"^ref_((?:[uU][A-Za-z0-9]{9})|(?:[A-Za-z0-9]{9})|\d+)$").as_("ref_match")))
 @router.message(CommandStart(magic=F.args.regexp(r"^promo_(\w+)$").as_("promo_match")))
 @router.message(CommandStart(magic=F.args.regexp(r"^(?!ref_|promo_)([A-Za-z0-9_\-]{2,64})$").as_("ad_param_match")))
 async def start_command_handler(message: types.Message,
@@ -328,9 +328,23 @@ async def start_command_handler(message: types.Message,
     ad_start_param: Optional[str] = None
 
     if ref_match:
-        potential_referrer_id = int(ref_match.group(1))
-        if await user_dal.get_user_by_id(session, potential_referrer_id):
-            referred_by_user_id = potential_referrer_id
+        raw_ref_value = ref_match.group(1)
+        if raw_ref_value.isdigit():
+            if settings.LEGACY_REFS:
+                potential_referrer_id = int(raw_ref_value)
+                if potential_referrer_id != user_id and await user_dal.get_user_by_id(
+                        session, potential_referrer_id):
+                    referred_by_user_id = potential_referrer_id
+        else:
+            normalized_code = raw_ref_value.strip()
+            if normalized_code and normalized_code[0].lower() == "u":
+                normalized_code = normalized_code[1:]
+            ref_user = None
+            if normalized_code:
+                ref_user = await user_dal.get_user_by_referral_code(
+                    session, normalized_code)
+            if ref_user and ref_user.user_id != user_id:
+                referred_by_user_id = ref_user.user_id
     elif promo_match:
         promo_code_to_apply = promo_match.group(1)
         logging.info(f"User {user_id} started with promo code: {promo_code_to_apply}")