Aftermarket Toolkit
A modular PHP toolkit for aftermarket workflows featuring REST-style API endpoints, Composer autoloading, basic file uploads, and PHPUnit tests.
Overview
This was my final year university project, built to demonstrate my skills in backend development with PHP. The project focuses on providing a comprehensive toolkit for aftermarket parts lookup, featuring a user-friendly interface and robust API endpoints. Users can search for parts, view detailed specifications, and manage their selections with ease. The reason I chose this project was because before starting university I worked for my dad's plumbing and contracting business and I saw how tedious it was to find parts for jobs sometimes. We often have many tools or reusable parts after a job but finding the exact part number or type again can be difficult and time-consuming. This toolkit aims to simplify that process and make it more efficient. While studying I found I used Stack Overflow a lot after consulting my dad about programs or websites he should use when he was starting plumbing to help him get unstuck on jobs, or learn about new tools and techniques he told me there wasn't much out there for plumbers and contractors with problems. Which lead to adding a forum feature to the toolkit. A community-driven space where users can share insights, ask questions, and collaborate on solutions. Just like Stack Overflow, but for plumbers and contractors. A place where they can find answers and support tailored to their specific needs. I add a private chat feature to the forum so users can discuss things privately as well as in public threads. Also included a job board where employers can post jobs and contractors can find work, along side a tradesperson profile system where users can showcase their skills and experience to potential employers and also mean you can verify any on posting on the forum or job board are real people with real experience. notifications for forum replies, job applications, and messages. Making it easy to stay updated on important activity within the toolkit. Friends can be added so users can connect with colleagues and peers within the community. Otp based authentication for secure login and account management. Overall, the Aftermarket Toolkit is designed to streamline parts lookup and foster a supportive community for plumbers and contractors.
Tech Stack
Backend: PHP, Composer • Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript • APIs: REST-style endpoints • Testing: PHPUnit • Database: MySQL
Key Features
- Fast search with incremental results
- Filter by brand, price, and availability
- Bookmark and compare selections
- Responsive design and keyboard-friendly navigation
- Modular architecture with Composer autoloading
- REST-style API endpoints and basic file uploads
- Unit tests with PHPUnit for reliability
- Database schema design for scalability
- Comprehensive documentation for developers
- Community forum with public and private discussions
- Job board for employers and contractors
- Notifications for forum replies, job applications, and messages
- Friends system for connecting with colleagues
- OTP-based authentication for secure login