BBS problems

[Anon]

I am coding a "closed" BBS, only registered users can read and send messges.
I don't have a database connection, so I use textfiles as a database.
That is why each user has a personal file where all the data (password, email, profile etc.) is kept.

Here is what I would like have in my BBS.
1. When a user log in the script would make a session for the user.
2. When user who has logged in performs some action the script would check if the session is still valid.
3. When user does nothing within 30 min. he/she would be kicked out (session will be removed).
4. A who's online function which shows users who are online and what they have done and when.

I have tried to do this but always come across some kind of problem which I can't solve.
I don't need the code, necessarily, but a working idea how to build this kind of system.

Thanks a lot!

[Anon]

Where are you running into problems? What you describe is certainly possible. The points you listed all amount to basic session management after the initial authentication.

By not using a database, you're forcing yourself to reinvent the wheel repeatedly.

Suggestion: Whenever you're tempted to use a file to store some type of data, think about how you might instead use a directory. That will help you avoid a lot of potential access collision problems, and make updating much more straightforward.