PHP Project SRS
PHP Project SRS
Student Names:
ABHISHEK KUMAR
VIKHYAT SAINI
JIMI BHAGAT
GANESH KUMAR
Prepared for
Continuous Assessment 3
Spring 2025
Project Name
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
This Software Requirements Specification (SRS) document provides a structured and detailed
overview of the StoryLand system — a web-based platform designed to enable users to read,
write, and share stories. This document outlines all technical and functional details required for
software engineers to design, develop, and implement the application efficiently.
The objective of this document is to clearly define the scope, features, constraints, interfaces, and
expectations associated with the StoryLand system. It is intended for use by developers, testers,
project managers, and other stakeholders involved in the development process. The content of
this SRS is structured in accordance with the IEEE Guide to Software Requirements
Specifications (IEEE Std 830-1998).
StoryLand aims to create an engaging, accessible, and intuitive platform for writers and readers.
It includes modules for user authentication, story posting, reading progress tracking, story
interactions such as likes, and newsletter subscriptions. Administrative users will be able to
manage story content and users through a dedicated dashboard.
This SRS contains all the necessary information to support the software engineering team in:
The structure of this document ensures that every aspect of the StoryLand system is well-
documented, traceable, and ready for translation into a working, user-centered application.
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this SRS is to define the requirements for StoryLand, an online platform for
reading, writing, and sharing stories. It outlines the system's functionality, performance, and
design constraints to guide the development team in building the application accurately.
Intended Audience:
This document serves as a common understanding for all involved in the project.
1.2 Scope
The software product to be developed is named StoryLand — a web-based platform that allows
users to read, write, and share stories. It includes key modules such as:
• Newsletter Subscription
• It will not support collaborative story writing in real-time (e.g., multiple users editing the
same story simultaneously).
• It will not provide a mobile app version in the current scope (only responsive web).
This scope aligns with the overall vision of delivering a creative and interactive digital reading
environment that empowers writers and engages readers through intuitive design and smart
functionality.
Term/Acronym Definition
UI User Interface – the part of the system with which users interact
DB Database – structured data storage for storing stories, users, likes, etc.
Term/Acronym Definition
StoryLand Name of the software product – a platform to read, write, and share stories
A user who reads stories and interacts with them through likes and progress
Reader
tracking
Admin A system user with privileges to moderate content and manage users
1.4 References
1. ISO/IEC 12207:2017
Title: Systems and Software Engineering – Software Life Cycle Processes
Report Number: ISO/IEC 12207:2017
Date: 2017-10-01
Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Available at: www.iso.org
2. IEEE 830-1998
Title: IEEE Recommended Practice for Software Requirements Specifications
Report Number: IEEE Std 830-1998
Date: 1998
Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Available at: www.ieee.org
4. MySQL Documentation
Title: MySQL Reference Manual
Report Number: N/A
Date: Ongoing updates
Publisher: Oracle Corporation
Available at: dev.mysql.com
5. PHP Documentation
Title: PHP Manual
Report Number: N/A
Date: Ongoing updates
Publisher: The PHP Group
Available at: php.net
1.5 Overview
Your SRS (Software Requirements Specification) outline for the StoryLand platform looks well-
organized. Here's a breakdown with a little more detail for each section:
1. Introduction: Purpose, Scope, and Assumptions
o Purpose: Define the goals of StoryLand, focusing on what the platform aims to
achieve (e.g., providing a space for users to share stories).
o Scope: Mention the features and services included in the platform (e.g., story
creation, user authentication, admin moderation) and what’s excluded (e.g.,
advanced AI functionalities for now).
o Assumptions: State any assumptions made during the project (e.g., users have
internet access, the platform supports modern browsers).
2. Overall Description: High-level System Overview
o Provide an overview of the system architecture and how the platform works at a
high level. For instance, the front end (HTML/CSS/JavaScript) interacts with the
back end (PHP), which connects to the MySQL database for user data and story
storage.
3. System Features: Functional Requirements
o Break down each feature in detail, for example:
▪ Story Creation: Users can write and submit stories, with options to save
drafts.
▪ User Authentication: Users can sign up, log in, and manage their profiles.
▪ Story Liking/Tracking Progress: Users can like stories and track their
reading progress.
▪ Admin Moderation Tools: Admins can review stories, manage users, and
handle complaints.
4. External Interface Requirements: Interfaces with External Systems
o Detail how the platform interacts with external systems such as APIs (Gemini API
for fashion advice, for instance) or third-party services.
o Database Interface: Specify how PHP communicates with the MySQL database
for storing stories and user information.
5. System Attributes: Non-functional Requirements
o Performance: The platform should be responsive with a target page load time
(e.g., <2 seconds).
o Security: User data should be stored securely, and password hashes should be
used. Implement protection against SQL injection, XSS, etc.
o Scalability: The platform should be able to handle an increasing number of users
and stories over time.
6. Other Requirements: Legal or Regulatory Needs
o Mention any legal requirements, such as data privacy (e.g., GDPR compliance),
copyright concerns regarding user-generated content, and accessibility (e.g.,
WCAG compliance).
7. References: List of Referenced Documents
o Include any documents that informed the design of the system, such as project
specifications, external libraries, frameworks, and API documentation.
Let me know if you need more detail on any specific section!
2. General Description
This section provides an overview of the general factors that influence the StoryLand platform
and its requirements. It does not include specific requirements but helps to understand the
context in which those requirements are defined.
1. User Demographics: StoryLand targets a broad audience of readers and writers, including
people of various age groups and interests in storytelling, which influences user interface
design and feature prioritization.
3. Performance Constraints: The platform must handle large volumes of users and stories,
ensuring fast load times, efficient data processing, and seamless user interaction,
especially during peak usage.
5. User Interaction: Users interact with the platform by creating stories, liking, commenting,
and tracking reading progress. These actions need to be intuitive, requiring a responsive
and accessible user interface.
6. Integration with External Systems: The platform interacts with external systems for tasks
such as user email subscriptions, moderation tools, and database management.
• Content Management Systems (CMS): Like traditional CMS tools (e.g., WordPress),
StoryLand allows for story creation and management, though it is more specialized for
storytelling rather than general content.
Product Positioning:
StoryLand positions itself as a community-driven platform where users can not only share their
stories but also engage with a broad audience. Its core features differentiate it from general
blogging platforms by focusing on the storytelling experience, with functionalities like admin
moderation, liking stories, and tracking reading progress.
In comparison with other platforms, StoryLand is tailored to users who enjoy both the creation
and consumption of stories in a dynamic, interactive environment.
1. User Authentication:
o Users can create an account, log in, and manage their profile.
3. User Interaction:
o Users can track their reading progress on stories they are following.
5. Newsletter Subscription:
o Users can subscribe to newsletters to receive updates about new stories, events, or
platform news.
6. Admin Tools:
o Admins can manage user accounts, moderate content, and manage the platform’s
settings.
7. Notifications:
o Users will receive notifications for story updates, new comments, or interactions
on their stories.
1. Readers
• Technical Skill Level: Generally moderate to low; most readers will expect an intuitive,
user-friendly interface without requiring technical knowledge.
• Devices: Access the platform primarily via web browsers on desktops, laptops, and
mobile devices.
2. Writers
• Age Range: Typically 18-45 years, including both aspiring and established writers.
• Technical Skill Level: Moderate; writers need a simple but feature-rich editor for creating
and managing stories. Some technical knowledge may be required for advanced
formatting and use of story categorization features.
• Preferences: Writers look for tools that allow them to draft, edit, and publish stories
easily. They also value feedback and interaction with their audience (via comments, likes,
and ratings).
• Devices: Primarily use desktops or laptops for writing, but also access the platform
through mobile devices for updates and interactions.
3. Administrators
• Age Range: Typically 25-50 years, responsible for managing content and platform
operations.
• Technical Skill Level: High; administrators are expected to manage the system, moderate
content, and ensure platform security.
• Devices: Access the platform through desktops and laptops for full administrative control
and content management.
• Access Needs: Users expect a responsive, mobile-friendly interface, fast load times, and a
secure experience, especially when logging in or submitting personal information.
• Language Skills: Users primarily communicate in English, with potential for other
languages based on region-specific features or future expansion.
• Accessibility: The platform must cater to users with disabilities, providing features like
screen reader support, keyboard navigation, and adjustable text sizes.
1. Technology Stack
• The backend is implemented using PHP and MySQL, and the frontend utilizes
HTML/CSS/JavaScript. The system must be designed to be compatible with this stack,
limiting the use of certain technologies or frameworks that are not compatible with these
tools.
2. Performance Requirements
• The platform must handle a large number of concurrent users and interactions. This
imposes constraints on database design, caching, and load balancing to ensure fast
response times, especially during peak usage.
• The platform must comply with data privacy regulations, such as GDPR (General Data
Protection Regulation), especially with regard to user data collection, storage, and
handling. This includes enforcing strong encryption for user credentials, secure data
transmission, and user consent for data collection.
4. Cross-Browser Compatibility
• The platform must be compatible with all modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari,
Edge) and be responsive on both desktop and mobile devices. This ensures that users can
access the platform without restrictions regardless of their chosen browser or device.
5. Third-Party Integrations
• The platform may rely on third-party APIs or services, such as email services for
notifications and newsletters. These integrations may have their own limitations or usage
constraints, which the developers must work within.
6. Scalability
7. Time Constraints
• Development of the platform must be completed within the agreed-upon timeline, which
may limit the scope of initial features or the depth of testing and optimization during the
development phase.
8. Budgetary Constraints
• The project must adhere to the allocated budget, limiting the ability to implement certain
high-cost technologies or features that would require significant investment in
infrastructure or third-party services.
Assumptions:
for an optimal user experience. If this assumption proves false, certain features (like real-
time updates or story uploads) may be affected.
Dependencies:
1. Third-Party APIs and Services:
The platform depends on external APIs for features like user authentication (e.g., email
verification), email notifications, and possibly content moderation. Changes to these
third-party services could affect functionality.
4. Regulatory Changes:
Changes in legal or regulatory requirements related to data privacy, accessibility, or other
aspects could require the system to be adjusted to comply with new laws.
3. Specific Requirements
This section outlines the detailed requirements for StoryLand and provides the foundation for
design, implementation, and testing.
3.1 Functional Requirements
1. User Authentication
o Users can create accounts, log in, recover passwords, and log out.
o Priority: High
• Web Interface: The platform will provide a responsive web interface accessible via
modern web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge). Users will interact with features
such as registration, login, story creation, and browsing through intuitive UI elements.
• Mobile Interface: The platform will be optimized for mobile devices, offering a user-
friendly experience for reading and interacting with stories on smartphones and tablets.
• Admin Interface: Admins will have access to a separate dashboard to manage users,
moderate content, and perform administrative tasks.
• Web Server: The platform will be hosted on cloud-based servers that provide adequate
resources to support user traffic and data storage.
• User Devices: The platform is accessible via devices like desktops, laptops, smartphones,
and tablets. Devices must support modern web browsers.
• Database: The platform will interact with a MySQL database for storing user
information, stories, and interactions. The database will be used for read/write operations
as required by the platform's functionality.
• Third-Party APIs: The platform will integrate with third-party services, such as email
providers for user registration and notifications (e.g., SMTP, SendGrid), and potentially
external content moderation services.
• Email Service: The platform will communicate with an external email service to send
user verification emails, password recovery instructions, and newsletter subscriptions.
These external interfaces define the key interaction points between StoryLand and its
environment, ensuring smooth communication, functionality, and scalability across different
platforms and services.
• 3.2.7.1 Users must be able to view and edit their profile information (e.g., username,
email, profile picture).
• 3.2.7.2 Users must be able to view a list of their published stories and reading progress.
3.2.1 <Functional Requirement or Feature #1>
3.2.1 User Authentication
3.2.1.1 Introduction
The User Authentication feature allows users to create accounts, log in, recover their password,
and log out securely. This ensures that only authorized users can access personalized content and
interact with the platform's features.
3.2.1.2 Inputs
• Username: A unique identifier for the user, entered during account creation and login.
• Email: An email address used for registration and account recovery.
• Password: A secret password chosen by the user for securing their account.
• Recovery Email: The email address entered by the user to recover a forgotten password.
3.2.1.3 Processing
• Account Creation: When a user submits their username, email, and password, the system
will validate that the email is not already registered, hash the password securely, and
store the data in the database.
• Login: The system will verify the entered username and password by matching the
hashed password in the database. If the credentials match, the user is authenticated.
• Password Recovery: When a user requests a password reset, the system will generate a
password recovery link and send it to the user's registered email address.
• Logout: When the user logs out, the system will end the session by clearing any session
tokens or cookies.
3.2.1.4 Outputs
• Successful Account Creation: Confirmation message to the user that the account was
created successfully.
• Successful Login: Redirect the user to their personalized dashboard or home page.
• Password Recovery Email: A password recovery email containing a secure link to reset
the password.
• Logout Confirmation: A message confirming that the user has successfully logged out.
3.2.1.5 Error Handling
• Invalid Credentials: If the user enters incorrect login credentials, an error message will
inform them that the username or password is incorrect. The user can try again.
• Existing Email or Username: If the email or username is already registered, an error
message will prompt the user to choose another email or username.
• Password Recovery Failure: If the email entered for password recovery does not exist in
the system, an error message will notify the user that the email is not associated with an
account.
• Server Errors: In the case of server failures during account creation or login, a generic
error message will be displayed, and the user will be advised to try again later.
• 95% of user actions (e.g., story submission, liking) should be processed in under 1
second.
3.5.2 Reliability
• The system should have a Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) of at least 30 days.
3.5.3 Availability
• The platform must maintain 99.9% uptime, with no more than 1 hour of downtime per
month.
3.5.4 Security
• All sensitive user data must be encrypted using industry-standard encryption methods.
• The system must undergo quarterly security audits and promptly address vulnerabilities.
3.5.5 Maintainability
• The system should be modular to allow easy updates and feature additions.
• Code should be written following best practices, with at least 80% test coverage.
3.5.6 Portability
• The application should be compatible with major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari,
Edge).
• The system should be able to run on various devices, including desktops and mobile
phones, without major modifications.
• The platform must adhere to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for user
data privacy and protection.
• The system should follow WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards to ensure the platform is
usable for people with disabilities.
• The platform’s UI/UX must align with the company’s branding guidelines, including
specific fonts, color schemes, and logos.
• All user data must be stored and processed in compliance with the company’s data
retention policy.
• The system must be optimized to run on standard web hosting services, requiring no
specialized hardware or high-end server infrastructure.
• The platform must be responsive and perform well on devices with limited resources
(e.g., low RAM, older smartphones).
• The system must be built using PHP for the backend, HTML/CSS/JavaScript for the
frontend, and MySQL for the database.
• The platform must integrate with third-party APIs for user authentication (e.g., Google
Login) and email notifications.
• The system must implement SSL encryption for all data transmitted between users and
the server.
• The platform must support at least two languages (English and Hindi) initially, with the
ability to add more languages in the future.
• Users should be able to share their stories on social media platforms (e.g., Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram) directly from the platform.
• The system should send email notifications for significant events such as new story
approvals, comments on a user's story, or newsletter subscriptions.
• Regular backups of the database must be performed daily to prevent data loss.
4. Analysis Models
4.1 Use Case Model
• Introduction: The Use Case Model describes the interactions between the users (primary
actors) and the system. It focuses on user roles and their goals, outlining the steps needed
to achieve those goals.
• Narrative Description: The primary actors for StoryLand include End Users, Authors, and
Admins. Use cases include actions like creating stories, liking stories, subscribing to
newsletters, and moderating content.
• Traceability to SRS: The use case model is directly linked to the Functional
Requirements section, such as the Story Creation and Management (3.2.2), User
Authentication (3.2.1), and Admin Moderation features (3.2.2).
• Introduction: The Data Flow Diagram (DFD) illustrates how data moves through the
system, showing inputs, processing steps, and outputs.
• Narrative Description: The DFD highlights key processes, such as user login, story
creation, content moderation, and user interactions (likes, comments). Data flows
between the user interface, database, and backend processes.
• Narrative Description: The ERD identifies the relationships between entities, such as a
user having many stories, a story having many comments, and users liking stories. This
structure supports efficient database queries and interactions.
• Traceability to SRS: The ERD aligns with the Data Management section of the SRS,
especially the Database Requirements and User-Story Relationships (3.2.2).
• Introduction: The State Diagram represents the various states of a Story or User Account
throughout their lifecycle.
• Narrative Description: A story may go through various states such as Draft, Submitted,
Approved, or Rejected. Similarly, user accounts can transition between Active, Inactive,
and Suspended states based on actions like moderation or inactivity.
• Traceability to SRS: This model is linked to the Story Creation and Management (3.2.2)
and User Authentication (3.2.1) sections, specifying the expected states and transitions
within the system.
• Introduction: The Class Diagram shows the main objects in the system, their attributes,
and the relationships between them. It is key for object-oriented design.
• Narrative Description: Key classes include User, Story, Comment, and Admin. Each
class has associated methods (e.g., create story, edit story, approve content) and attributes
(e.g., user ID, story content, comment text).
• Traceability to SRS: This diagram maps directly to functional requirements like Story
Creation (3.2.2), Admin Moderation (3.2.2), and User Interaction features (3.2.1).
Level 0:
Level 1:
Level 2:
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Roll No 17:
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A. Appendices
Appendices may be used to provide additional (and hopefully helpful) information. If present,
the SRS explicitly states whether the information contained within an appendix is to be
considered part of the overall set of requirements.
A.1 Appendix 1
This appendix includes any initial conceptual documents or preliminary sketches that provide
background or high-level insights into the StoryLand project. It is not considered part of the
formal requirements but offers context for the software design.
A.2 Appendix 2
This appendix contains relevant marketing materials, including proposed branding concepts,
promotional strategies, and user engagement ideas for the StoryLand platform. These materials
serve as a guide for aligning the project with its intended audience but are not considered part of
the technical requirements of the SRS.