Meriones Progress Blog

8/3/2025 Created logout.js and added log out button to dashboard. Deployed all currect updates to production. Sign up/Log in features are complete!

8/2/2025 Created login.js and added fetch logic to signin.html so that existing users can now log back in. Need to add log out button on dashboard page.

8/1/2025 Working on log in for existing users

7/31/2025 Created validate-session.js to check for valid sb_access_token and redirect from dashboard.html back to signin.html if invalid. Looked into IRS tax return preparer credentials and qualifications for possible future plans to allow Meriones to file user tax returns.

7/30/2025 Working on making the dashboard accessible only to logged in users

7/29/2025 Made it so users will be directed to the dashboard page after signing in.

7/28/2025 Figured out how to run the site locally for testing using npx serve.

7/27/2025 Mobile formatting seemed to have broken itself again or something, not sure but should be actually fixed now.

7/26/2025 Worked on some artwork for gamification parts of the site. Fixed formatting for mobile. Working on figuring out npx serve and how to run the site locally so I can test features before they're actually public.

7/25/2025 Rewrote signin.php locally as signin.html. Fixed signup.js. Users can now log in with information securely stored in the database!

7/24/2025 Rewrote about.php locally as about.html. Deployed to production using vercel CLI. Connected site images.

7/23/2025 Rewrote index.php locally as index.html and style.css within pages folder. Deployed pages folder in vercel as project meriones using the vercel CLI. Will be gradually moving meriones.great-site.net to meriones.vercel.app/

7/22/2025 Was very sick so skipped a few days. Realized InfinityFree blocks external APIs like vercel and supabase. Will look into fully migrating this site to vercel.

7/17/2025 Connected supabase to vercel I think, need to figure out how to connect frontend to that.

7/16/2025 Think I found some tutorials on how to actually connect supabase and vercel the way I want so will look into those tomorrow. Installed password-based authentication block off Superbase UI library, need to figure out how to integrate that.

7/15/2025 Created connection to supabase project through .env.local

7/14/2025 Working on connecting frontend from here to vercel backend to supabase table for profiles.

7/13/2025 Installed nodejs. Used terminal to install vercel CLI. Created project with Supabase support for user authentication. Edited default code for user sign in. Created Supabase edge function for sign in using Deno script. Created table to store profile information. Deployed project to production in Vercel.

7/12/2025 Working on installing nodejs

7/11/2025 Got signin.php at least back online. Looked into Vercel for Node.js backend maybe for Supabase user authentication system and also for Teller access tokens.

7/10/2025 Trying to integrate Supabase for usernames/passwords. Got really frustrated so mostly just gutted signin.php and will rebuild and figure it out later.

7/9/2025 Signed up for Supabase. Recreated Users table with encrypted passwords on Supabase for additional security, need to connect to website. Need to create RLS policy to restrict access to data.

7/8/2025 Stored authenticationId in locked data file. Looked into Supabase for additional security and safely storing Teller access tokens.

7/7/2025 Integrated Teller in sandbox mode for testing. Added warnings not to input your actual information yet to bookkeeping.php. Made bookkeeping page only accessible to logged in users.

7/6/2025 Fixed desktop page formatting for mobile screens. Added placeholder notes to bookkeeping.php.

7/5/2025 Created progress.php and moved the progress blog entries from the homepage to there. Fixed about page formatting for mobile device screens.

7/4/2025 Fixed homepage formatting for mobile device screens.

7/3/2025 Setting up with Teller.io to securely pull bank info for automatic recording of transactions and balances using API references. Created bookkeeping.php and button linking to it on the dashboard, this is where those records would go. Might also be able to use this system to pull bank account and routing numbers to the UI for check printing without actually storing or making them accessible. Added users count on home page.

7/2/2025 Created simple menu on dashboard.php that links to checks.php using text and navigation button overlay on Meri's office image. Made it so only logged in users can view checks.php. Edited Meri's dialogue in checks.php to be clearer.

7/1/2025 Added text overlay on homepage image.

6/30/2025 Uploaded and inserted images

6/29/2025 Created artwork for background images for index.php and dashboard.php. Need to insert

6/28/2025 Fixed about page. Started working on check drafting page (checks.php). Edited Meri's dialogue, added underlying localStorage function to record input once I add forms. Also need to make this page only a accessible to logged in users.

6/27/2025 Fixed back buttons on signin page. Fixed log in form for existing users which now directs to dashboard. Edited password encryption and sql database for additional security and to define account type.

6/26/2025 Created dashboard.php so it at least goes somewhere if you sign up. Added log in button and form for existing users but need to work on getting that to actually decrypt the password in a way I don't see it and then verify it.

6/25/2025 Allowed user input on sign in page. Still need to fix back button. Implemented AES encryption using a password-derived key (Argon2id + openssl_encrypt) to securely store user data. Emails and passwords are recorded in database on entry. Looking into sending automatic welcome emails.

6/24/2025 Worked on the sign in page. Now the tier buttons work and there are boxes for username and password but they aren't recorded and don't do anything yet.

6/23/2025 Started working on the check writing software. Created rotating dialogue questions for Meri to gather personal info needed in checks.

6/22/2025 Created Meri, the mascot gerbil assistant. Added blurb for mascot on about page.

6/21/2025 Hashed and salted ip addresses for security. Indecipherable even by me. Mobile device screen formatting seems to have fixed itself, not sure what happened there.

6/20/2025 Added unique site visitors counter based on ip addresses, need to encrypt. Need to fix mobile device screen formatting.

6/19/2025 Added Sign In button and respective signin.php file. Fixed button alignment on all pages. Added placeholder buttons for sign in tiers. Site view counter is currently down, working on switching this to unique site visitors count using ip addresses with encryption.

6/18/2025 Created separate php file to house sensitive database files. Removed sensitive info from index file and moved to data file. Created .htaccess file to deny all access to data files and sensitive information including usernames and passwords. Created backup files.

6/17/2025 Created 'about' page. Edited navigation buttons and linked to 'home' and 'about' pages. Added 'Our Mission', 'Our Promises', and 'Why Meriones?' sections in about page.

6/16/2025 Reduced margins for progress blog text. Added page navigation buttons (currently nonfunctional).Made mobile site compatible with new margin format.

6/15/2025 Created SQL database. Created table in database for site visit counter. Added site visit counter using PHP. Added error reporting.

6/14/2025 Sololearn course may be too simple, very confused. Edited default website template (changed colors, text, format)

6/13/2025 looked into Front-End for Beginners course on sololearn.con

6/12/2025 created website