.gitignore

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+config/config.json
+config/about_page.htmlbody
+
+# nano
+.swp

README.md

@@ -4,104 +4,49 @@ This is the source code for the ThreadR Forum Engine, rewritten in Go. ThreadR i
 
 ## Project Overview
 
-Originally started as a school project in 2019 with the aim of creating a hybrid between a forum and a social media platform, ThreadR was temporarily abandoned after school ended. Revived in 2020, the project shifted focus to become a fully functional, portable, and open-source forum engine under the Apache 2.0 license.
+ThreadR was originally started as a school project in 2019 with the aim of creating a hybrid between a forum and a social media platform. It was built with PHP and (back then still) MySQL.
+After we finished school, it was temporarily abandoned. An attempt was made to revive it in 2020, open-sourcing the code and making some things configurable, but not much else happened.
+Here we are now, with a full rewrite in Go started in 2025.
 
-### Current Goals
-- [ ] Bring ThreadR back online (see issue #2)
-- [ ] Go FOSS by making the source code publicly available (see issue #5)
-- [ ] Ensure portability for easy setup of personal instances
-- [ ] Implement core forum features (sign-up, board creation, threads, messages, profiles)
+## Project Setup
 
-### Future Features
-- Anonymous posting with unique per-thread identifiers for registered users
-- Thread subscription and notifications for new messages (opt-out available)
-- "Split thread here" functionality for focused discussions
-- Automatic loading of new messages in threads (opt-out in settings)
-- Question threads with an "accept answer" feature
-- Nuanced like/dislike system (limited functionality, inspired by StackExchange)
-
-**Note:** ThreadR is now technically host-independent with configurable settings, though it remains a work in progress (WIP).
-
-## Installation
-
-ThreadR is in early development, and setup is currently manual. Automated setup scripts will be added in the future.
+This is for development only. Currently, ThreadR is not ready for production use.
 
 ### Prerequisites
-This guide assumes you are on a UNIX-like system with the following installed:
-- Apache with PHP (may work with other web servers)
-- MySQL or MariaDB
-- Python 3
-- Bash
+
+- UNIX-like OS
+- Go (golang)
+- Mariadb
 
 ### Setup Steps
-1. Clone this repository into a directory accessible by your web server but outside any web root.
-2. Create a MySQL/MariaDB database with the tables listed below.
-3. Add a dedicated MySQL/MariaDB user for ThreadR and grant usage privileges for the tables.
-4. Symlink the `build/` directory to your desired web root location (ThreadR does not support direct web root linking).
-5. Adjust configuration files in the `config/` directory to match your setup.
-6. Run `./deployment-script.sh` to apply the configuration.
-7. Optionally, symlink `build/redirect_home.html` to redirect specific locations to ThreadR.
 
-### Database Schema
-- **boards**
-  - `id` (int, primary key, auto increment)
-  - `name` (varchar)
-  - `user_friendly_name` (varchar)
-  - `private` (boolean or tinyint(1))
-  - `public_visible` (boolean or tinyint(1))
-- **posts**
-  - `id` (int, primary key, auto increment)
-  - `board_id` (int)
-  - `user_id` (int)
-  - `post_time` (timestamp, default current_timestamp())
-  - `edit_time` (timestamp, nullable, default null, on update current_timestamp())
-  - `content` (text, nullable, default null)
-  - `attachment_hash` (bigint(20), nullable, default null)
-  - `attachment_name` (varchar, nullable, default null)
-  - `title` (varchar)
-  - `reply_to` (int, default -1)
-- **profiles** (usage TBD)
-  - `id` (smallint, primary key, index)
-  - `email` (varchar, index, likely unique)
-  - `display_name` (varchar)
-  - `status` (varchar)
-  - `about` (long varchar)
-  - `website` (varchar)
-- **users**
-  - `id` (smallint, primary key)
-  - `name` (varchar, index, likely unique)
-  - `authentication_string` (varchar(128))
-  - `authentication_salt` (varchar)
-  - `authentication_algorithm` (varchar)
-  - `time_created` (timestamp, default current_timestamp())
-  - `time_altered` (timestamp, default current_timestamp(), on update current_timestamp())
-  - `verified` (boolean or tinyint(1), default 0)
+1. Create a mariadb user and database for ThreadR (the names can be changed):
+```sql
+CREATE USER threadr IDENTIFIED BY 'super secure password';
+CREATE DATABASE `threadr`;
+GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON `threadr`.* TO 'threadr';
+```
+2. Create a config file: In the `config` subdirectory, `cp config.json.sample config.json` and edit it to suit your needs.
+3. Create an about page: Also in the `config` subdirectory, `cp about_page.htmlbody.sample about_page.htmlbody` and edit it to suit your needs.
 
 ## Running the Application
-To start the ThreadR server, run the following command after configuration:
+
+After configuration, run the following command once to initialize the DB:
 ```
-go run ./main.go
+go run main.go --initialize
+```
+To start the ThreadR server, run this:
+```
+go run main.go
 ```
 The server will start on port 8080 by default.
 
-## Project Structure
-- **src/**: Core ThreadR source files
-- **build/**: Placeholder for deployment, contains a working instance after running the deployment script
-- **config/**: Configuration files for specific ThreadR instances
-- **macros/**: Files for use with the variable grabbler script
-- **static/**: Static assets (CSS, images) for the web interface
-- **templates/**: HTML templates for rendering pages
-- **handlers/**: HTTP request handlers for various routes
-- **models/**: Database models and interaction logic
-- **deployment_script.sh**: Script for code variable replacement and deployment tasks
-- **variable_grabbler.py**: Custom macro processor for configuration
-- **LICENSE.md**: Apache 2.0 license details
-- **NOTICE**: Copyright notice in plain text
-
 ## Contributing
-We welcome contributions! Please discuss ideas or issues in the GitHub issues section or join our Discord server for real-time communication: [discord.gg/r3w3zSkEUE](https://discord.gg/r3w3zSkEUE).
+
+We welcome contributions! Please join our Discord server to get in touch: [discord.gg/r3w3zSkEUE](https://discord.gg/r3w3zSkEUE).
 
 ## License
+
 ThreadR is licensed under the Apache 2.0 License. See [LICENSE.md](./LICENSE.md) for details.
 
-**Authors:** BodgeMaster, Jocadbz
+**Authors:** BodgeMaster, Jocadbz

config/about.template

@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-<p>
-  Hello there! This is the official ThreadR instance provided by the ThreadR development team.
-</p>
-<h2>
-  What is ThreadR?
-</h2>
-<p>
-  ThreadR is a free and open-source forum engine. That means you can download
-  it and host an instance of ThreadR on your own web server to run your own forum.
-</p>
-<p>
-  The project originated as a school project in 2019 with the goal of building
-  a forum. When we finished school, the project was abandoned and eventually taken down.
-  A year later, we decided to revive it and started working on it again. Now that school
-  is over and we don&apos;t necessarily have a a reason to run our own forum anymore,
-  we shifted the project goal to building a FOSS forum engine.
-</p>
-<h2>
-  Who are we?
-</h2>
-<p>
-  We are a small group of (hobby) developers working on ThreadR in our free time.
-  To get in touch, ... uhh ... There will be a way once ThreadR is fully functional.
-  For now, you can find us on Discord: <a href="https://discord.gg/r3w3zSkEUE"> discord.gg/r3w3zSkEUE </a>
-</p>

config/about_page.htmlbody.sample

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+<main>
+  <header>
+    <h2>About ThreadR</h2>
+  </header>
+  <section>
+    <p>
+      This is a ThreadR development instance. Beep beep. Boop boop.
+    </p>
+    <p>
+      If you see this message in a production environment (aka. a Forum that is actually being used), kindly tell the admin that they forgot to change the about page. :)
+    </p>
+    <h2>
+      What is ThreadR?
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      ThreadR is a free and open-source forum engine. That means you can download
+      it and host an instance of ThreadR on your own web server to run your own forum.
+      It originated in 2019 as a school project and has died twice since.
+      Currently, the project is being rewritten in Go with (hopefully) less ugly hacks.
+    </p>
+    <h2>
+      Who dis?
+    </h2>
+    <p>
+      Depends.<br />
+      If this site is hosted on a LostCave domain, then it&apos;s probably us, the developers.
+      For now, you can find us on Discord: <a href="https://discord.gg/r3w3zSkEUE">discord.gg/r3w3zSkEUE</a><br />
+      If it isn&apos;t on a LostCave domain, then this site belongs to some lazy admin who forgot to change the about page.
+    </p>
+  </section>
+</main>

handlers/about.go

@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ func AboutHandler(app *App) http.HandlerFunc {
         loggedIn := session.Values["user_id"] != nil
         cookie, _ := r.Cookie("threadr_cookie_banner")
 
-        aboutContent, err := ioutil.ReadFile("config/about.template")
+        aboutContent, err := ioutil.ReadFile("config/about_page.htmlbody")
         if err != nil {
-            log.Printf("Error reading about.template: %v", err)
+            log.Printf("Error reading about_page.htmlbody: %v", err)
             http.Error(w, "Internal Server Error", http.StatusInternalServerError)
             return
         }
@@ -43,4 +43,4 @@ func AboutHandler(app *App) http.HandlerFunc {
             return
         }
     }
-}
+}

templates/pages/about.html

@@ -7,15 +7,8 @@
 </head>
 <body>
     {{template "navbar" .}}
-    <main>
-        <header>
-            <h2>About ThreadR</h2>
-        </header>
-        <section>
-            {{.AboutContent}}
-        </section>
-    </main>
+    {{.AboutContent}}
     {{template "cookie_banner" .}}
 </body>
 </html>
-{{end}}
+{{end}}