Introduction

As a developer, I'm constantly seeking to expand my skills and build applications that provide real value. My latest project, a Web Forum, is a modern discussion platform built with Elixir and the Phoenix framework. In this post, I'll share what I'm working on and the technical decisions behind this project.

The Technology Stack

This new Forum is built with:

• Elixir & Phoenix: A powerful, functional programming language and web framework known for scalability and fault tolerance
• Phoenix LiveView: For real-time, interactive user experiences without writing JavaScript
• PostgreSQL: For robust data storage
• Tailwind CSS: For a clean, responsive design system
• Ecto: For database interaction and schema management

Current Development Focus

I'm currently enhancing the forum with image upload capabilities, allowing users to add visual content to their discussions. This feature is particularly important for special categories where visual content adds significant value to the conversation.

Image Upload Implementation

The image upload system I've built includes:

• Backend Controller: A dedicated ImageUploadController that handles file validation, processing, and storage
• Topic Schema Updates: Added main_image and main_image_thumbnail fields to store paths to uploaded images
• LiveView Integration: Seamless file upload experience using Phoenix LiveView's built-in upload handling
• Thumbnail Generation: Automatic creation of thumbnails for better performance and user experience

User Experience Considerations

I've designed the forum with user experience at the forefront:

• Rich Text Editing: Users can format their posts for better readability
• Breadcrumb Navigation: Easy navigation between categories and topics
• Responsive Design: Works beautifully on all device sizes
• Subscription System: Users can subscribe to topics for notifications
• Moderation Tools: Comprehensive tools for community management, including user banning and suspension features

Community Management Features

The Forum includes robust moderation capabilities:

• User Roles: Different permission levels for administrators, moderators, and regular users
• Content Moderation: Tools to approve, edit, or remove inappropriate content
• User Management: Ability to suspend or ban users who violate community guidelines
• Topic Status Control: Options to pin, lock, or mark topics as announcements

What's Next?

Looking ahead, I'm planning to:

• Enhance Image Handling: Implement proper image resizing and optimization
• Improve Notification System: Add more granular control over notification preferences
• Implement Advanced Search: Make it easier for users to find relevant discussions
• Add Analytics: Gain insights into community engagement and content performance

Technical Challenges and Solutions

One of the interesting challenges I've faced is implementing real-time updates across the forum. Phoenix's PubSub system has been invaluable here, allowing me to broadcast changes to all connected users when new posts are created or topics are updated.

The code for handling real-time updates looks something like this:

# When a new post is created
Phoenix.PubSub.broadcast(
  Forum.PubSub,
  "topic:#{topic.id}",
  {:post_created, post}
)

# In the LiveView
def handle_info({:post_created, post_id}, socket) do
  # Update the UI with the new post
  posts = Forums.list_posts_for_topic(socket.assigns.topic.id, current_user: socket.assigns.current_user)
  {:noreply, assign(socket, posts: posts)}
end

Conclusion

Building this Forum has been a rewarding experience that has deepened my understanding of Elixir, Phoenix, and real-time web applications. I'm excited to continue developing this platform and seeing it grow into a vibrant community space.

If you're interested in functional programming or building community platforms, I'd love to connect and share experiences. Feel free to reach out or follow along with my development journey!