Installation Guide of the PHP Link Directory

Overview #

PHP Link Directory is a self-hosted website directory with categories, search, link submissions, recommendations, informational pages, English and Dutch. Its browser installer creates one SQLite database, so MySQL is not needed.

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Before you begin #

The installer creates storage/directory.sqlite and config/installed.php. Never copy installation files from another customer or publish them in a source repository.

Installation #

1. Create a domain root or subfolder and enable HTTPS.
2. Upload the contents of www/, including the hidden .htaccess.
3. Confirm config/ and storage/ are writable by PHP. Mode 0755 is sufficient on most shared hosts.
4. Open the public URL. The installer appears automatically.
5. Resolve every failed PDO, SQLite, JSON or folder check.
6. Enter the site name, tagline, default language, administrator email and a password of at least 12 characters.
7. Finish installation. The script creates the database and starter content.
8. Open /admin/ directly and review categories, websites and pages.

The public frontend intentionally contains no administrator link.

Starter content #

A new installation contains six categories, 18 familiar website listings and three informational pages. The data makes the design immediately testable and can be edited or deleted from the administration area.

Review all starter descriptions before launching a production directory. Replace generic categories with a clear niche when appropriate.

Languages #

English and Dutch are included. Visitors may switch between available languages, while missing interface strings fall back to English.

1. Copy languages/_template.php to a two-letter ISO filename such as de.php.
2. Change the language name and translate each key in the replacement array.
3. Keep placeholders and HTML fragments unchanged where the template notes require it.
4. Upload the file and test public pages, forms and the administration area.

See languages/README.md for the smallest working example.

Administration #

Use the protected administration area to manage site settings, categories, websites, submissions and pages. Links are restricted to HTTP and HTTPS URLs. Passwords are hashed and write forms use CSRF tokens.

Access the dashboard at /admin/. It is intentionally not linked from public pages. Save that URL in the owner’s password manager or bookmarks.

Web server routes #

Apache and LiteSpeed #

The included .htaccess has no fixed hostname or RewriteBase. It supports a web root and subfolder when rewrite overrides are enabled.

Nginx #

Nginx ignores .htaccess. Adapt nginx.conf.example for the correct server block and root. Validate the configuration before reloading Nginx.

The server rules must block direct access to app/, config/, storage/ and language internals.

Backups and updates #

Backup #

Back up storage/directory.sqlite and config/installed.php. For a busy site, briefly enable maintenance or use an SQLite-safe snapshot so the copied database is internally consistent.

Update #

1. Make and verify the backup.
2. Upload changed application files while retaining the installed database and configuration.
3. Review the changelog for migration instructions.
4. Sign in and confirm product and platform versions.
5. Test home, category, search, link, submission, recommendation, language and legal pages.

Troubleshooting #

PDO SQLite is missing #

Enable the pdo_sqlite extension in the hosting panel or ask the provider to enable it for the selected PHP version.

The installer cannot write files #

Correct ownership or folder permissions for config/ and storage/. Avoid 0777 unless the host explicitly requires it.

Clean URLs return 404 #

Confirm that .htaccess was uploaded and overrides are enabled, or install the Nginx try_files rules.

Clean reinstall #

After making a backup, remove only storage/directory.sqlite and config/installed.php, then revisit the site. This permanently removes the active installation data.

Support #

Product page: mediageni.com/product/php-link-directory-script/

Include the PHP version, hosting software, public URL and exact error. Never send administrator credentials or a database containing private submissions.