Project Blog
Start Date: March 6th, 2006
End Date: March 24th, 2006
Lines: approx. 2500
Language: PHP 4.4.1 and MySQL 4.1.14
Features
A full-featured account system, with each user having a custom profile that can be set by themselves. While a user is logged in, when a user leaves a comment, details such as e-mail address, display name and other associated information are all automatically associated with that comment.
Probably the most pleasing thing for users, is that once you are logged in, the system will keep you logged in forever. You will only log out if you do not visit the site for 7 days in a row. Any time you visit, it renews your login for another 7 days. Remember that if you're on a public computer, it's important to logout at the end of your visit.
Fully threaded comment system. Users can now reply to already existing comments, to continue discussions, while showing visually that it's a reply to a specific comment, and not to the entry. This will make it much easier to carry on discussions in comments than before. To reply to a comment, simply click the 'reply' link on the bottom toolbar of the comment.
E-mail notifications if your comment has recieved a reply, so you can keep track of discussions.
There are four distinct access levels associated with each user account and each entry, thus allowing the administrator to post private-type entries to hide from lower level users or the public. The access levels are as follows:
Public - The default level of an entry. These entries can be viewed by anyone visiting the website.
Normal - These entries can only be viewed by users who are logged in. Anyone with an account can read these entries. (equal to friends-only on Livejournal)
Semi-Private - These entries can onlybe viewed by level 2 users, or 'special' accounts. This will block these entries from everyone except for those users you've set to Special.
Private - These entries are admin only and can only be viewed by administrators.
Users with accounts set to level 2 (special) have the ability to Flag items (both entries and comments). Flagging entries is simply to inform the author of broken links or spelling mistakes, things of that nature. Flagging comments is different however; A user would flag a comment if the comment contains inappropriate content, bad HTML, or anything such as that. Once flagged, the comment disappears and awaits approval by the administrators, and will re-appear when approved. That way, if one of the users notices an inappropriate comment they think the administrator wouldn't like, it can be set for pending approval.
A very detailed IP Tracking system is in place that associates all comments with IP Addresses, even comments left by those who are not logged in. Impersonating other users, or simply leaving your name blank will not hide who you really are from the administrators, and thus anonymously attacking people in comments will not go anonymously, and you will be held responsible. Just keep that in mind when thinking about leaving rude comments.
A completely redesigned Search feature has been put in place, and now searches entries faster, and without missing results as it did before.
To go in line with the introduction of user accounts, the administrators account manager is used to approve pending accounts (accounts created waiting to be activated), suspend active accounts (effectivly banning them), or reactivate suspended accounts, all at the click of a link.
All comments are editable by the author, as many times as you wish. If you make a spelling mistake, simply click the edit link in the comment toolbar and you can save any changes to the comment. A notice will appear at the bottom of the comment showing users you have edited the comment.
A redesigned archive page as well, organized in the same way but changed visually (slightly) but underneath it works completly differently; these changes should allow the months to load many times faster.
Known Bugs
Internet Explorer doesn't display the website properly because Internet Explorer doesn't follow industry standards. How do you fix it? Use Firefox. Seriously. Or wait until I get access to a machine with IE on it and can slowly find a way to destroy my code, make it sloppy, unreadable and unprofessional so IE can read it properly.
Bugs
While I have tested the script over and over again with the help of a few people, obviously the true test will come when real people start using the script in real ways, so I'm certain a few bugs will start to show up as things start rolling.
If you run into an error (Error ###: Programmer is a fucking idiot on Line 65), or behaviour that you don't think should be occuring, please e-mail me ([email protected]) or at least leave a comment on the latest entry with the details of the erorr and what lead up to it.
I would really like to get this script as error free as possible, and while I do think it's pretty solid, I'm sure a few things will pop up.
Purchase
This script can be purchased to use as your own blog, news updater, or article based website. It can be modified to fit your needs, and to fit any and all layouts. Just e-mail me if you're interested or if you have questions.
Other
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