Introduction

Welcome to Micko - A comprehensive Laravel-based social networking platform with marketplace, job portal, and learning management features.

Key Features

• Social Networking: Posts, comments, likes, connections, groups, events, and pages
• Marketplace: Product listings with shopping cart and checkout system
• Learning Management: Online courses with video lectures and student management
• Job Portal: Job listings and application system
• Payment Integration: PayPal and Stripe payment gateways
• OAuth Authentication: Social login with Google, Facebook, and Twitter
• Real-time Updates: Livewire-powered interactive components
• Responsive Design: Mobile-friendly Bootstrap 5.3.2 interface

Server Requirements

Before installing Micko, ensure your server meets the following requirements:

Required PHP Extensions

• OpenSSL
• PDO
• Mbstring
• Tokenizer
• XML
• Ctype
• JSON
• BCMath
• Fileinfo
• GD or Imagick (for image processing)

Server Software

Micko works with the following web servers:

• Apache (with mod_rewrite enabled)
• Nginx (with proper configuration)
• Laravel Herd (for local development on macOS/Windows)

Installation Steps

Note: For most users, the built-in web installer is recommended. Advanced users may optionally install the script manually using CLI commands.

Installation Methods

Micko can be installed using one of two methods:

Method 1: Web-Based Installer (Recommended)

The easiest way to install Micko is using the built-in web installer. Simply upload the files and access the installer through your browser. The installer will guide you through all necessary steps automatically.

For detailed instructions on using the web installer, see the Installation & License Activation section.

Method 2: Manual Installation via CLI

Advanced users can install Micko manually using command-line interface (CLI) commands. This method requires server access via SSH or terminal.

Follow the steps below for manual installation:

Minimum Server Requirements

• PHP 8.2 or higher
• MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB
• Required PHP extensions enabled
• Storage and cache folders must be writable

Step 1: Upload Files

Upload all files from the package to your web server's root directory (public_html, www, or htdocs).

                        
                            your-domain.com/
                            ├── app/
                            ├── bootstrap/
                            ├── config/
                            ├── database/
                            ├── public/
                            ├── resources/
                            ├── routes/
                            ├── storage/
                            ├── vendor/
                            ├── .env
                            ├── .env.example
                            ├── artisan
                            └── composer.json
                        
                    

Step 2: Set Permissions

Set proper permissions for storage and cache directories:

chmod -R 755 storage
chmod -R 755 bootstrap/cache
chown -R www-data:www-data storage
chown -R www-data:www-data bootstrap/cache

Step 3: Install Dependencies

Install PHP dependencies using Composer:

composer install --no-dev --optimize-autoloader

Step 4: Environment Configuration

Copy the .env.example file to .env and configure your environment:

cp .env.example .env

Step 5: Generate Application Key

Generate a unique application encryption key:

php artisan key:generate

Step 6: Link Storage

Create a symbolic link for public storage access:

php artisan storage:link

Step 7: Build Assets

Install and build frontend assets:

npm install
npm run build

Installation & License Activation

The script includes a built-in web-based installer to make setup quick and easy. No manual configuration or coding is required.

Installation Steps

1. Upload the project files to your server
2. Create a database
3. Open the project URL in your browser
4. The installer will guide you through:
   • Server requirements check
   • Folder permission verification
   • Database configuration
   • Admin account creation
5. Finish installation and start using the application

Once installation is completed, the installer is automatically locked for security.

License & Purchase Code Verification

This script supports Envato purchase code verification.

• Each purchase code can be activated on one domain
• License validation is required to access the admin panel
• Purchase code verification helps prevent unauthorized usage
• License status is securely stored in the database

Demo Mode (For Review & Testing)

A demo mode is included for preview and testing purposes.

• Demo mode allows reviewers to access the admin panel without entering a purchase code
• Demo data is preloaded for evaluation
• Demo mode is intended for testing only and can be disabled by the site owner

Demo mode is intended for preview and evaluation purposes only. For production use, a valid Envato purchase code is required.

No Coding Required

No coding is required to install or activate the script. Everything can be managed using the built-in installer and admin panel. No coding is required to manage static pages. All submissions and content can be managed directly from the admin panel.

Database Setup

Configure your database connection and run migrations:

Step 1: Create Database

Create a new MySQL or PostgreSQL database for Micko:

CREATE DATABASE micko CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci;

Step 2: Configure .env File

Update your .env file with database credentials:

DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=micko
DB_USERNAME=your_username
DB_PASSWORD=your_password

Step 3: Run Migrations

Run database migrations to create all required tables:

php artisan migrate

Step 4: (Optional) Seed Demo Data

If you want to populate the database with sample data for testing:

php artisan db:seed

Admin Account Creation

Create an admin account to access the admin panel and manage your site:

Method 1: Manual Database Entry

Alternatively, you can create an admin user directly in the database:

INSERT INTO users (name, email, password, role, email_verified_at, created_at, updated_at)
VALUES (
    'Admin User',
    'admin@example.com',
    '$2y$10$92IXUNpkjO0rOQ5byMi.Ye4oKoEa3Ro9llC/.og/at2.uheWG/igi', -- password: password
    'admin',
    NOW(),
    NOW(),
    NOW()
);

⚠️ Important: Change the password immediately after first login. The default password is password.

Method 2: Using Tinker

Create an admin user using Laravel Tinker:

php artisan tinker

\App\Models\User::create([
    'name' => 'Admin User',
    'email' => 'admin@example.com',
    'password' => bcrypt('your-secure-password'),
    'role' => 'admin'
]);

Accessing Admin Panel

After creating an admin account, access the admin panel at:

https://your-domain.com/admin

Admin Access

• Admin Login URL: /admin
• Demo Admin Credentials (for preview/testing only):
  • Email: admin@demo.com
  • Password: password

These credentials are for demo and testing purposes only.

Admin Management – Static Pages

All static pages are fully backend-driven and manageable from the admin panel.

Admins can:

• Manage Contact Us messages with status tracking (new, read, replied, archived)
• Review user feedback with ratings and file attachments (images & PDFs)
• Manage Coming Soon email subscriptions with CSV export
• Monitor all submissions via real-time dashboard statistics

All admin sections are protected by authentication and role-based authorization.

Feedback attachments support image and PDF uploads. Note: Individual feedback attachments are limited to 5MB per file.

Envato Purchase Code Activation

Activate your Envato purchase code to unlock all features and receive updates:

What is a Purchase Code?

A purchase code is a unique identifier provided by Envato when you purchase the script. It verifies your license and enables automatic updates.

How to Find Your Purchase Code

1. Log in to your Envato account
2. Go to Downloads section
3. Find your Micko purchase
4. Click on License Certificate
5. Copy your Item Purchase Code

Activating Your Purchase Code

Navigate to the activation page in your admin panel:

https://your-domain.com/admin/settings/license

Enter Purchase Code

1. Enter your Envato purchase code in the activation form
2. Click Activate License
3. Wait for verification (usually takes a few seconds)
4. Upon successful activation, you'll see a confirmation message

Troubleshooting Activation

Error: "Invalid Purchase Code"

• Verify you copied the complete purchase code
• Ensure there are no extra spaces before or after the code
• Check that you're using the correct purchase code for Micko

Error: "Purchase Code Already in Use"

• This means the purchase code is already activated on another domain
• If this is your domain, you may need to reset the activation
• Contact support if you believe this is an error

Error: "Connection Failed"

• Check your server's internet connection
• Verify that your server can make outbound HTTPS requests
• Check firewall settings
• Try again after a few minutes

Folder Structure Overview

Understanding the project structure will help you customize and maintain Micko:

micko-script/
├── app/                          # Application core
│   ├── Console/                  # Artisan commands
│   ├── Http/
│   │   ├── Controllers/          # Application controllers
│   │   ├── Middleware/           # Custom middleware
│   │   └── Requests/             # Form request validation
│   ├── Livewire/                 # Livewire components
│   ├── Models/                   # Eloquent models
│   ├── Observers/                # Model observers
│   ├── Providers/                # Service providers
│   └── Services/                 # Business logic services
├── bootstrap/                    # Bootstrap files
├── config/                       # Configuration files
├── database/
│   ├── migrations/               # Database migrations
│   ├── seeders/                  # Database seeders
│   └── factories/                # Model factories
├── public/                       # Public assets (web root)
│   ├── css/                      # Stylesheets
│   ├── js/                       # JavaScript files
│   ├── images/                   # Images
│   └── index.php                 # Entry point
├── resources/
│   ├── views/                    # Blade templates
│   │   ├── layouts/              # Layout files
│   │   ├── components/           # Reusable components
│   │   └── pages/                # Page templates
│   ├── css/                      # Source CSS
│   └── js/                       # Source JavaScript
├── routes/
│   ├── web.php                   # Web routes
│   ├── api.php                   # API routes
│   └── admin.php                 # Admin routes
├── storage/                      # Storage directory
│   ├── app/                      # Application files
│   ├── framework/                # Framework files
│   └── logs/                     # Log files
├── vendor/                       # Composer dependencies
├── .env                          # Environment configuration
├── .env.example                  # Environment template
├── artisan                       # Artisan CLI
└── composer.json                 # Composer configuration

Key Directories

app/Http/Controllers/

Contains all application controllers organized by feature:

• Auth/ - Authentication controllers
• PostController.php - Post management
• ProductController.php - Product management
• CourseController.php - Course management
• JobController.php - Job management
• MarketplaceController.php - Shopping cart and checkout
• And more...

resources/views/

Blade templates organized by feature:

• layouts/ - Main layouts
• components/ - Reusable components
• pages/ - Page templates
• auth/ - Authentication pages

storage/app/public/

User-uploaded files are stored here:

• avatars/ - User profile pictures
• posts/ - Post media files
• products/ - Product images
• courses/ - Course media

Marketplace

Micko includes a full-featured marketplace where users can buy and sell products and courses.

Products

Creating Products

Users can create product listings with the following features:

• Product title and description
• Price and currency settings
• Product images (multiple images supported)
• Product categories and tags
• Stock management
• Digital or physical product options

Product Management

Access product management at:

/all-products              # Browse all products
/product-detail-view/{id}   # View product details
/add-product               # Create new product
/my-products               # Manage your products

Product Features

• Product Gallery: Multiple images per product
• Reviews & Ratings: Customer feedback system
• Related Products: Suggestions based on category
• Wishlist: Save products for later
• Share: Share products on social media

Courses

Creating Courses

Instructors can create comprehensive online courses:

• Course title and description
• Course curriculum (sections and lectures)
• Video lectures with preview options
• Course materials and resources
• Pricing and enrollment settings
• Course categories and tags

Course Management

Access course management at:

/all-learning               # Browse all courses
/course-detail-view/{id}   # View course details
/add-course                # Create new course
/my-courses                # Manage your courses
/purchased-courses         # View purchased courses

Course Features

• Video Player: Built-in video player for lectures
• Progress Tracking: Track student progress
• Certificates: Generate completion certificates
• Discussion Forum: Course-specific discussions
• Reviews & Ratings: Student feedback system
• Preview Content: Free preview lectures

Shopping Cart & Checkout

Cart Features

• Add multiple products/courses to cart
• Update quantities
• Remove items
• Apply discount codes
• Calculate taxes and shipping

Checkout Process

1. Review cart items
2. Enter shipping/billing information
3. Select payment method (PayPal, Stripe, or Credits)
4. Complete payment
5. Receive order confirmation

Payment Methods

• PayPal: PayPal Express Checkout
• Stripe: Credit card payments
• Credits: Use earnings/credits balance

Order Management

Users can view their order history and download purchased items:

• Order history page
• Order details and invoices
• Download links for digital products
• Refund requests

Job Portal

Micko includes a comprehensive job portal where employers can post jobs and job seekers can browse and apply.

Posting Jobs

Employers can create job listings with:

• Job title and description
• Company information
• Job location (city, country)
• Salary range
• Job type (Full-time, Part-time, Contract, Freelance)
• Required skills and qualifications
• Application deadline

Job Management Routes

/all-jobs                  # Browse all jobs
/job-detail-view/{id}     # View job details
/post-a-job               # Create new job listing
/my-jobs                  # Manage your job postings

Job Features

• Job Search: Search by keywords, location, type
• Job Filters: Filter by category, salary, type
• Job Categories: Organized by industry
• Saved Jobs: Save jobs for later
• Job Alerts: Get notified of new matching jobs
• Application Tracking: Track application status

Applying for Jobs

Job seekers can apply for positions by:

1. Viewing job details
2. Clicking "Apply Now"
3. Uploading resume/CV
4. Writing a cover letter
5. Submitting application

Employer Dashboard

Employers have access to:

• View all applications
• Filter applications by status
• Download resumes
• Contact applicants
• Mark applications as reviewed/interviewed/hired

Social Features

Micko provides a complete social networking experience with various features for connecting and sharing.

Posts

Users can create and share posts with rich content:

• Text posts with formatting
• Image uploads (single or multiple)
• Video uploads
• File attachments
• Location tagging
• Privacy settings (Public, Friends, Only Me)
• Hashtag support
• Mention users with @username

Post Interactions

• Like: Like posts with real-time updates
• Comment: Comment with nested replies
• Share: Share posts to other platforms
• Save: Save posts for later viewing

Pages

Create and manage social pages for businesses, brands, or public figures:

• Page name and description
• Page cover image and avatar
• Page category
• Like/follow pages
• Post on behalf of pages
• Page analytics

Page Management

/pages                    # Browse all pages
/page-detail/{id}        # View page details
/create-page             # Create new page
/my-pages                # Manage your pages

Groups

Create and join groups based on interests, hobbies, or communities:

• Group name and description
• Group cover image and avatar
• Privacy settings (Public, Private, Secret)
• Group categories
• Member management
• Group posts and discussions
• Group events

Group Management

/groups                   # Browse all groups
/group-detail/{id}        # View group details
/create-group             # Create new group
/my-groups                # Manage your groups

Events

Create and discover events:

• Event title and description
• Event date and time
• Event location and venue
• Event cover image
• Event categories
• RSVP functionality
• Event posts and discussions

Event Management

/events                   # Browse all events
/event-detail/{id}        # View event details
/create-event             # Create new event
/my-events                # Manage your events

Hashtags

Discover and follow trending hashtags:

• Browse trending hashtags
• Search hashtags
• Follow hashtags to see related posts
• View all posts with a specific hashtag
• Hashtag analytics

Connections

Build your network by connecting with other users:

• Send connection requests
• Accept/reject requests
• View mutual connections
• Find connections by location, interests
• Connection suggestions

Connection Routes

/find-connections          # Find new connections
/my-connections           # View your connections
/explore-connections      # Explore suggested connections

Messages

Private messaging system for direct communication:

• One-on-one conversations
• Group messages
• File and image sharing
• Message search
• Read receipts
• Online status indicators

Notifications

Stay updated with real-time notifications:

• New connection requests
• Post likes and comments
• Mentions in posts
• New messages
• Event reminders
• Job application updates

Help Center

Users can access comprehensive help documentation and support resources through the Help Center. Help Center categories and articles are fully manageable from the admin panel.

Coming Soon

The Coming Soon page allows visitors to subscribe for updates about upcoming features and launches. Email subscriptions are stored securely and can be exported by admins in CSV format.

Email subscriptions are stored in the database. Integration with third-party email services can be configured separately if needed.

Common Errors & Fixes

This section covers common issues you might encounter and their solutions:

Installation Errors

Error: "Class not found" or "Autoload error"

Solution:

composer dump-autoload
php artisan optimize:clear

Error: "Storage link not found"

Solution:

php artisan storage:link

Error: "Permission denied" on storage

Solution:

chmod -R 775 storage
chmod -R 775 bootstrap/cache

Database Errors

Error: "SQLSTATE[HY000] [2002] Connection refused"

Solution:

• Check database credentials in .env file
• Verify database server is running
• Check database host (use 127.0.0.1 instead of localhost if needed)
• Verify database user has proper permissions

Error: "Table already exists"

Solution:

php artisan migrate:fresh
php artisan migrate

⚠️ Warning: This will delete all existing data!

Payment Gateway Errors

PayPal: "Invalid credentials"

Solution:

• Verify PayPal Client ID and Secret in .env
• Check if you're using sandbox credentials for testing
• Ensure PayPal account is verified

Stripe: "Invalid API key"

Solution:

• Verify Stripe API keys in .env
• Use test keys for development, live keys for production
• Check key format (starts with sk_test_ or sk_live_)

File Upload Errors

Error: "File too large"

Solution:

• Increase upload_max_filesize in php.ini
• Increase post_max_size in php.ini
• Increase memory_limit if needed
• Restart web server after changes

Error: "Upload directory not writable"

Solution:

chmod -R 775 storage/app/public
chown -R www-data:www-data storage/app/public

OAuth Errors

Error: "Invalid OAuth credentials"

Solution:

• Verify OAuth app credentials in .env
• Check redirect URIs match in OAuth provider settings
• Ensure callback URLs are correctly configured

Performance Issues

Slow Page Load Times

Solutions:

• Enable caching: php artisan config:cache
• Optimize autoloader: composer dump-autoload -o
• Use CDN for static assets
• Enable database query caching
• Optimize images before upload

Getting Help

If you encounter an error not listed here:

1. Check Laravel logs: storage/logs/laravel.log
2. Enable debug mode in .env: APP_DEBUG=true
3. Check server error logs
4. Contact support with error details

Updating the Script

Keep your Micko installation up to date with the latest features and security patches:

Before Updating

Backup Steps

1. Export your database
2. Backup your .env file
3. Backup your storage/ directory
4. Backup any custom modifications

Update Methods

Method 1: Automatic Update (Recommended)

If you have activated your Envato purchase code, you can update automatically:

1. Log in to admin panel
2. Go to Settings → Updates
3. Click Check for Updates
4. If an update is available, click Update Now
5. Wait for the update to complete

Method 2: Manual Update

Download the latest version from Envato and follow these steps:

1. Download the latest version from your Envato downloads
2. Extract the files
3. Upload new files (except .env and storage/)
4. Run update commands:

composer install --no-dev --optimize-autoloader
php artisan migrate
php artisan config:cache
php artisan route:cache
php artisan view:cache
npm install
npm run build

After Updating

1. Clear all caches: php artisan optimize:clear
2. Test all major features
3. Check for any error messages
4. Verify file permissions are correct

Version Compatibility

When updating, ensure compatibility:

• PHP version meets requirements
• Database version is supported
• All dependencies are updated

Rolling Back

If an update causes issues, you can roll back:

1. Restore your backup files
2. Restore your database backup
3. Run: php artisan migrate:rollback (if needed)
4. Clear caches: php artisan optimize:clear

Support & Contact

We're here to help! Get support through the following channels:

Support Channels

Before Contacting Support

To help us assist you faster, please provide:

• Your Envato purchase code
• PHP version
• Laravel version
• Error messages (screenshots if possible)
• Steps to reproduce the issue
• Any custom modifications you've made

Support Policy

• Included Support: Bug fixes, installation help, configuration assistance
• Not Included: Custom development, theme modifications, third-party integrations
• Response Time: 24-48 hours on business days
• Support Period: 6 months from purchase date

Common Support Requests

Installation Help

We provide free installation assistance. Contact us with your server details and we'll help you get set up.

Bug Reports

Found a bug? Report it with:

• Detailed description
• Steps to reproduce
• Expected vs actual behavior
• Screenshots or error logs

Feature Requests

Have an idea for a new feature? We'd love to hear it! Submit your request through our support channel.

Credits

Micko is built using the following amazing open-source technologies and resources:

Frameworks & Libraries

• Laravel - PHP Framework (MIT License)
• Livewire - Full-stack framework for Laravel (MIT License)
• Bootstrap - CSS Framework (MIT License)
• jQuery - JavaScript Library (MIT License)

Payment Gateways

• PayPal SDK - PayPal REST API SDK (Apache 2.0 License)
• Stripe PHP - Stripe API Library (MIT License)

Authentication

• Laravel Socialite - OAuth authentication (MIT License)

Icons & Fonts

• Font Awesome - Icon library
• Google Fonts - Web fonts (Inter, etc.)

Development Tools

• Composer - PHP dependency manager
• NPM - Node package manager
• Vite - Build tool

Special Thanks

Special thanks to all the developers and contributors of the open-source projects that made Micko possible.

Thank You!