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dkf.za.pl

DKF.za.pl is a website created in 2010 for the Film Discussion Club “ZA”, operating as part of the Polish Federation of Film Discussion Clubs. The project wa...

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dkf.za.pl

DKF.za.pl – Technology for the Film Discussion Club in 2010

DKF.za.pl is a website created in 2010 for the Film Discussion Club “ZA”, operating as part of the Polish Federation of Film Discussion Clubs. The project was developed to promote the art of cinema, organise screenings of quality films, and enable discussions about movies among enthusiasts and club members. As a developer, I designed and implemented this platform using the technologies available at that time to support the club’s activities and provide access for the film community. Below are the project details in the context of 2010.

The Purpose of DKF.za.pl and Its Audience

The main goal of DKF.za.pl was to serve as the official online presence of the Film Discussion Club “ZA”, with the aim of deepening knowledge about cinematic art and popularising ambitious cinema. The website was intended to provide information about scheduled screenings, film repertoires, lectures, and to facilitate contact with the club. It was aimed at art film enthusiasts, students, the local cultural community, and members of the Polish Federation of FDCs – offering a platform for exchanging opinions and organising film events.

Technical Functionalities of DKF.za.pl

For this project, I implemented technical solutions characteristic of 2010, adapted to the web standards of that era:

  • Browser Compatibility – The structure was based on HTML 4.01 and CSS 2.1 with a table-based layout, optimised for popular browsers of the time, such as Internet Explorer 8, Firefox 3.6, and Chrome 4.
  • Programme and News – Sections featuring a schedule of screenings and news, built in PHP 5.2 with data stored in a MySQL 5.1 database, server-rendered with basic SQL queries.
  • Contact Form – A simple form in PHP with server-side validation, spam protection via CAPTCHA, and email sending using the mail() function.
  • Basic SEO – Optimisation for the search engines of that time (e.g., Google) using meta tags for title, description, and keywords, without advanced APIs for indexing.
  • Backups – Manual database backups on an FTP server, exported via phpMyAdmin with a cron job set for weekly backups.
  • Performance – Caching at the Apache 2.2 level using mod_expires for static resources (e.g., JPG, PNG), limited by the capabilities of shared hosting at that time.
  • Photo Gallery – A simple gallery with thumbnails in HTML, generated in PHP from server folders, without advanced JavaScript libraries.

Technical Challenges and Their Solutions

During the development of DKF.za.pl in 2010, I encountered challenges arising from the technological limitations of that period, which I addressed as follows:

  • Slow Image Loading – Event photographs were too large for the available connections. Solution: I manually optimised images to JPG/PNG format and added expires headers in .htaccess.
  • Rendering Differences – IE8 and Firefox interpreted CSS differently. Solution: I used CSS hacks (e.g. * html) and conditional comments for compatibility with IE.
  • Limited Database Scalability – Increasing numbers of entries strained MySQL. Solution: I added basic indexes to tables and limited queries using LIMIT.
  • Form Security – The absence of modern frameworks made the forms vulnerable. Solution: I implemented data filtering in PHP using mysql_real_escape_string and a simple CAPTCHA.

Technologies Used

To build and maintain DKF.za.pl in 2010, I utilised the following technologies:

  • PHP 5.2 – Server-side language for site logic, with basic session and form handling functions.
  • MySQL 5.1 – Database for storing the programme, news, and contact data, managed with simple SQL queries.
  • HTML 4.01 – Standard markup for the site structure, using tables for layout.
  • CSS 2.1 – Styling with basic support for float and position, adjusted for IE8.
  • JavaScript – Simple scripts (e.g., using jQuery 1.4) for form validation and UI effects, such as drop-down menus.
  • Apache 2.2 – Web server with mod_php and mod_expires for caching static resources.
  • FTP – For file transfers and managing backups on the hosting server.
  • phpMyAdmin – Tool for database administration and manual SQL export.

Management and Technical Support

DKF.za.pl operated between 2006-2007 and was further developed in 2010, requiring continuous management within the technological constraints of that time. Content and code updates were performed manually via FTP, tested on a local environment using WAMP. Performance was maintained through basic Apache caching, and stability depended on manual optimisation of SQL queries and monitoring of server logs. In 2010, the site had potential to be expanded with features such as a registration system for screenings or an archive of shows, but the limitations of shared hosting and the lack of modern frameworks (WordPress became widely used later) hindered scalability. In its time, DKF.za.pl served as digital support for the Film Discussion Club “ZA”, reflecting the emerging trend of online communities in Poland.

Are you planning to recreate a classic portal or develop a modern cultural platform? If you need support to implement your project using contemporary technologies, contact me to discuss the details and create a solution that meets your requirements.

Summary

DKF.za.pl is a website created in 2010 for the Film Discussion Club “ZA”. It provided a platform for deepening knowledge about film art and promoting ambitious cinema, and it showcased my ability to develop functional online tools within the technological limitations of 2010.

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