Online Auction Platform

The Online Auction Platform is a web application designed to enable users to create auctions, place bids, and manage items in a secure and user-friendly environment. Built using Flask, SQLite, and other modern web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, this platform supports both sellers and buyers, offering real-time bidding functionality.

Features

• User Registration & Login: Secure user login system for buyers and sellers.
• Auction Creation: Sellers can list items for auction with a description, starting bid, and auction end date.
• Bidding System: Buyers can place bids on items. The highest bid is displayed in real time.
• Admin Dashboard: Admins can manage auctions and users from an easy-to-use dashboard.
• Bid History: Track all bids placed for an auction.
• Responsive Design: Access the platform on desktop and mobile devices.

Installation

1. Install Python:

• Download and install Python from Python.org.

2. Clone the Repository:

• Clone the repository to your local machine:

  git clone https://github.com/your-username/online-auction-platform.git

3. Navigate to Project Folder:

• Open the project folder in VS Code or your preferred code editor.

4. Install Required Dependencies:

• In the terminal, run the following command to install the required dependencies:

  pip install -r requirements.txt

Running the Application

1. Check Database Files:

   • Ensure the following databases exist in the data folder:

     • user_data.db for user information.
     • auction.db for auction data.
     • bids.db for bid history.

   • If any of the databases are missing, run the respective setup script to create them:

     • setup_user_database.py
     • setup_auction_database.py
     • setup_bids_database.py

2. Start the Application:

   • Run the application using:

     python app.py

   • Alternatively, right-click the app.py file and select Run in Terminal.

Access the Application

• Once the app is running, open your browser and navigate to:

• Use the application from your browser.

File Structure

Contributing

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create a new branch (git checkout -b feature-name).
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add new feature').
4. Push to your branch (git push origin feature-name).
5. Open a Pull Request.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Acknowledgments

• Flask is used to create the web framework.
• SQLite for lightweight database storage.
• HTML/CSS for front-end design.