software-blogs/README.md

🧠 Software-Blogs — A Lightweight, Transparent PHP Blog System

Software-Blogs is a minimal, self-hosted PHP blog framework designed for technical writers and developers who value simplicity, transparency, and total control over their stack.

Each post is its own self-contained directory with its own SQLite comment database, while shared logic like the comment system lives in modular PHP files that are dynamically included at runtime.

This setup embraces the UNIX-style philosophy:

“Do one thing well. Then link it dynamically.”

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🚀 Features

• Per-post isolation: each post directory has its own index.php and comments.db.
• Modular comment system: all comment logic is centralized in /modules/comments.php.
• Zero external dependencies: uses built-in PHP + SQLite only.
• LAN-aware admin system: restricts comment deletion to your local or ISP IP range.
• Clean mentalnet.xyz-style dark theme ready for embedding.
• Perfect for personal dev blogs, technical essays, or transparent documentation.

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🧩 Directory Structure

software-blogs/
├── modules/
│   ├── comments.php        # Shared comment system
├── opensource-future/
│   ├── index.php
│   └── comments.db
├── dephell/
│   ├── index.php
│   └── comments.db

Each post is completely portable — move its folder anywhere and it will still work.

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⚙️ How It Works

When you load a post, the page dynamically imports the core module:

<?php require_once __DIR__ . '/../modules/comments.php'; ?>

That module:

1. Initializes or creates a comments.db SQLite database in the same directory.
2. Handles POST requests for new comments and admin deletions.
3. Exposes variables like $comments, $error, and $is_admin to the main page.
4. Is not usable standalone — it’s meant to be dynamically linked, not directly served.

Think of it like dynamic linking in compiled languages:

• index.php is the binary.
• modules/comments.php is your shared library.
• PHP’s require_once() is your runtime linker.

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💬 Comment System Overview

Each post maintains its own comments.db schema:

CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS comments (
  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
  name TEXT NOT NULL,
  comment TEXT NOT NULL,
  ip TEXT NOT NULL,
  date TEXT NOT NULL
);

Key details:

• Max comment length: 250 characters (configurable).
• One comment per IP or name — prevents spam flood.
• Admin access is determined by IP pattern (192.168.86.* by default).
• Comments are stored locally; no external services or trackers.

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🛠️ Setup

1. Clone or copy this repo into your web root:

   git clone https://github.com/youruser/software-blogs.git /var/www/html/blog
   

2. Ensure PHP has SQLite enabled:

   php -m | grep sqlite
   

3. Make post directories writable for SQLite and make sure they are owned by the correct webuser running your server:

   chmod 755 -R /var/www/html/blog
   chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/blog
   

4. Visit your post at http://your-ip/blog/dephell/.

   You’ll see your article, comments section, and dynamic SQLite comments instantly.

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🌐 Hosting Context

This project assumes you’re running it:

• On your ISP-assigned public IP (e.g. a home server or self-hosted VPS), or
• Within a LAN environment accessible via IP (e.g. 192.168.x.x).

The admin check uses simple IP prefix matching for maintainability — intentionally lightweight and transparent. If you host publicly, change the IPs in modules/comments.php to your static or dynamic DNS IP range.

This design trades enterprise-grade auth for simplicity and control — a deliberate choice for personal or small-scale tech blogs.

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🧱 Adding a New Blog Post

1. Copy an existing post folder:

   cp -r dephell new_article
   

2. Edit new_article/index.php and replace the content section.

3. Access it via http://your-ip/blog/new_article/.

A new comments.db will be generated automatically when someone comments.

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🔒 Security Note

This system is designed for simplicity and transparency, not for multi-user or high-traffic production setups.

If you expose it to the public internet:

• Always restrict admin deletion to your IP.
• Keep directory permissions strict.
• Consider placing /modules/ outside your web root or use .htaccess to block direct access.

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📜 License

MIT License — open and educational. Feel free to fork, remix, and host your own “transparent blog” setup.

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🧠 Philosophy

Software-Blogs isn’t about convenience — it’s about understanding. Each post is a living, self-contained artifact. You can open it, read it, and see how it works.

If you’re tired of opaque CMS systems and bloated blogging platforms, this setup gives you something more honest — a blog where you can see every moving part, line by line.

“Abstractions rot. Understanding scales.”