- PHP 5.3 (or up)
- PHP cURL Extension (this probably comes as default)
- PHP MYSQL Extensions (this probably comes as default as well)
- MySQL
This app uses Composer to manage prerequisites. Run composer install in the src directory for the magic to be worked.
Database structure is built using a migrations engine. Run php artisan migrate:install followed by php artisan migrate in the src directory.
A SQL file to populate the database (using General Election 2010 candidates) can be found in the sql directory. Run as usual in your favourite MySQL interface, ensuring migrations are run first.
The app requires the following environment variables to be set:
LARAVEL_APP_KEY: A 32-character random string.DB1_HOST: Hostname of the MySQL database.DB1_USER: Username of the MySQL user.DB1_PASS: Password for the MySQL user.DB1_NAME: Name of the MySQL database.
Given more time, I would have liked to:
- A non-JavaScript version (although JS support is a fair bet in all modern browsers)
- Have made postcode input handling more reliable, done more pre-processing before sending to MapIt etc.
- Found a better dataset of candidates, or done more data massaging. Possibly even found photos of candidates.
- Tested in IE 8/9/10, with more robust degredation where necessary.
- Shown results in a more graphical manner
- Fine-tuned the presentation to be a more unique brand (or in line with brand guidelines).
- Anti-stuffing to preserve integrity.
This project makes use of the following bits of coding goodness:
And uses data from: