Forums

Sources

1. Wikipedia, “Internet Forum” - Accessed 2024-11-02

Look into someday

• How to Make a Forum using PHP

Structure

1. Categories
   1. Subcategories
      1. Threads/Topics
         1. Posts/Messages/Replies
            • Contains the attributes
              • Poster
              • Time posted
              • Edited or not
2. User Groups
   1. Administrator
      • Can assign mods
      • Can create categories and subcategories
      • Can do all things moderators and members can
      • Can do database operations
      • Can create forum-wide announcements
   2. Moderators
      • Can read threads
      • Can post and reply
      • Can ban members
      • Can lock threads
      • Can alter the permission of a thread
      • Can delete messages, threads
   3. Member
      • Can read threads
      • Can post and reply
   4. Lurker/Guest
      • Can read threads

Types of Message Boards

1. Non-threaded
   • Used when not discussion topic oriented (only categories).
2. Semi-threaded
   • Used for discussion topic oriented.
   • Can reply but cannot reply directly to replies.
3. Fully threaded
   • Used for discussion topic oriented.
   • Can reply and directly reply to replies (is displayed by indenting each underneath message being replied to).

Threads

• Displayed based on the newest reply or the newest post (or maybe most replies in a period of time)
• Attributes
  • Category and/or subcategory
  • Title
  • Description
  • Poster
  • Time and date posted
  • Edited or not
  • Number of replies or messages (derived attribute)
  • Locked or not
  • Roles allowed to view and contribute (e.g., members, mods, etc.)
  • Stickied (or starred)?

Optional Features to Implement

1. Account details
2. Post attachments
3. Text formatting
4. Emojis
5. Avatars