Technical Specifications

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose

This document outlines the technical specifications and requirements for the Football Stats Website. It specifies the technology stack, third-party services, and infrastructure necessary to build, deploy, and maintain the website effectively.

1.2 Scope

The specifications cover server-side technologies, database management, client-side technologies, external data sources, and other critical technical components.

2. Technology Stack

2.1 Server-Side Technology

• Programming Language: PHP 8.x
• Web Server: Apache 2.4 or Nginx 1.18
• Server Management: cPanel/WHM or Plesk (depending on hosting provider)

2.2 Database Management

• Database: MySQL 8.0
• Database Management:

2.3 Client-Side Technology

Frontend Framework: React.js or Vue.js (chosen based on developer preference and project requirements)

• CSS Framework: Bootstrap 5 for responsive design
• JavaScript Library: jQuery for DOM manipulation

2.4 External APIs

Football Data API: Integration with a reputable football data provider (e.g., API-Football, Sportmonks) for live scores, stats, and other football-related data.

Social Media APIs: Integration with Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram APIs for social media interaction.

3. Third-Party Services

3.1 Cloud Services

• Cloudflare: For CDN services, DDoS protection, and web security.
• Email Service Provider: Integration with SendGrid or Mailgun for transactional emails.

3.2 Analytics

• Google Analytics: For tracking website traffic and user engagement metrics.

3.3 Payment Gateway

• Stripe or PayPal: For handling subscriptions or any financial transactions on the website.

4. Infrastructure

4.1 Hosting

Dedicated Server Provider: A reputable offering dedicated servers to ensure performance and reliability.

Specifications for the dedicated server should include:

• CPU: Minimum 8 Cores
• RAM: Minimum 16GB
• Storage: Minimum 1TB SSD
• Bandwidth: 1 Gbps unmetered

4.2 Backup and Recovery

Regular automated backups of website data and databases.

A clear disaster recovery plan in case of data loss or server failure.

4.3 Security Measures

• Implementation of SSL certificates for secure HTTP connections.
• Regular software updates and security patches.
• Firewall and malware scanning tools to protect against threats.

5. Development and Deployment

5.1 Version Control

• Git: Utilized for source code management, with repositories hosted on GitHub or GitLab.

5.2 Deployment Workflow

• Continuous Integration and Deployment (CI/CD) pipeline using Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, or GitHub Actions for automated testing and deployment.

5.3 Development Environment

• Local development environments set up to mirror the production environment as closely as possible, using tools like Docker or Vagrant.