ThreadIT

ThreadIT is a discussion forum web application built with plain PHP to demonstrate a self-written MVC architecture. Users can register, log in, create threads, write comments, vote on content, search the site, and manage their profile.

Overview

This project is a compact example of a custom MVC structure without a framework. The application is split into clear layers so that each part has a specific responsibility:

• The entry point in code/index.php receives the request and routes it to the correct controller.
• Controllers in code/controller handle user input, enforce basic validation, and decide which action to perform.
• Models in code/model contain the database access logic and business rules for users, threads, comments, and votes.
• Views in code/view and assets in code/resources handle the presentation layer and frontend behavior.

This separation makes the project easier to follow and extend while still staying lightweight and educational.

Key Features

• User registration, login, logout, and profile management
• Creating, viewing, and deleting discussion threads
• Adding comments and voting on threads/comments
• Search functionality for threads and users
• AJAX-based interactions for comments and voting

Technologies Used

• PHP for routing, controllers, and server-side logic
• MySQL with PDO for data storage
• HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the frontend
• Session-based authentication

Setup

The application was tested locally with XAMPP. To run it locally:

1. Move the folder named "code" into XAMPP's web root directory (htdocs).
2. Import the database files into PhpMyAdmin or an equivalent tool:
   • Combined database dump: db.sql
   • Schema: code/sql/Threadit.sql
   • Demo data: code/sql/demoData.sql
3. Start Apache and MySQL, then open the application in your browser through the web root containing code/index.php.

Demo Login Information

All demo users use the same password: "Test123!"

Available usernames:

• tech_guru
• code_newbie
• alice_dev
• bob_coder
• database_boss
• charlie_brown
• web_weaver
• shadow_coder
• pixel_perfect
• stack_master

Notes

This project is intended as a practical example of a self-written MVC structure in PHP, focused on clarity, separation of concerns, and straightforward implementation.