# Setup Guide - Blog Management Dashboard

Follow these steps to set up and run the project:

### 1. Database Setup
1. Open **PHPMyAdmin** (usually `http://localhost/phpmyadmin`).
2. Create a new database named `blog_dashboard`.
3. Import the `database.sql` file provided in the project root.

### 2. Configuration
The database connection is pre-configured in `config/db.php`.
- **Host**: localhost
- **User**: root
- **Password**: (empty)
- **DB Name**: blog_dashboard

If your MySQL credentials are different, update them in `config/db.php`.

### 3. Folder Permissions
Ensure the following folders have write permissions for image uploads:
- `/uploads/users/`
- `/uploads/blogs/`

### 4. Running the Project
1. Copy the project folder to your `htdocs` directory (e.g., `xampp/htdocs/blog-dashboard`).
2. Access the project in your browser: `http://localhost/blog-dashboard/register.php`.
3. **Important**: You must register a user first to access the dashboard.

### 5. Features Included
- **Secure Auth**: Password hashing and session management.
- **User Profile**: Upload profile pictures during registration.
- **Category System**: Manage blog categories (Add/Delete).
- **Blog CRUD**: Full management of blog posts with images and category assignment.
- **Responsive Admin UI**: Built with Bootstrap 5 and FontAwesome.
- **Real-time Counts**: Automatic stats update on the dashboard.