Explore the intricacies of GUIDs (Globally Unique Identifiers) in database design and implementation through this comprehensive conference talk. Delve into real-world scenarios where GUID usage has led to performance issues and scalability problems. Understand the reasons behind choosing GUIDs, including simplified handling of parent/child rows, reduced round-trips, and potential benefits for distributed databases and security. Gain insights into the true costs associated with GUID usage, encompassing programming, storage, maintenance, and performance aspects. Discover better alternatives and solutions for managing parent/child relationships, optimizing round-trips, and selecting appropriate clustering keys. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls and make informed decisions when considering GUID implementation in your database projects.