php and mysql
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My first serious data-driven web tool, built to replace a slow Microsoft Access workflow with a browser-based PHP and MySQL application.
Why it existed
I had wanted to build my own website, but this project gave me a concrete reason: a local business needed help replacing a slow database based on Microsoft Access. I opted to build a SQL-backed database presented through a webpage, which allowed users to enter and view data from any computer on the local intranet and, if desired, from the internet.
PHP, SQL, and input validation
PHP made it possible to persist useful state across browser windows during a user's session. A strong input validation system became one of the most important parts of the project because entries had to be correct before they could be sorted, displayed, and edited reliably.
The combination of PHP and SQL also supported a username and password login system so entries could be logged by user. PHP's built-in hashing functions allowed hashed passwords to be stored without exposing the original password value.