uTue is a meticulously crafted homage to YouTube as it was in 2009/2010. This project represents my most successful effort to date in replicating the look, feel, and functionality of YouTube during this iconic era of internet history.
- Authentic Interface: Recreates YouTube's 2009/2010 user interface, offering a nostalgic trip for those who experienced it first-hand and a glimpse into the past for new explorers.
- Functional Simulation: Beyond aesthetics, uTue emulates the operational aspects of old YouTube, providing a functional and interactive experience.
- Accuracy: Most important to recreating YouTube's aesthetic, was the old, skeuomorphic player and intricate channel customization.
- Core Technologies: Utilizes raw PHP, integrating a custom router and the Twig templating engine.
- Database Handling: Employs a mediocre approach to model inclusion, and this led to some performance challenges.
- Performance Issues: The initial framework, while innovative, had limitations. Each new Model created a fresh database connection, leading to significant performance bottlenecks.
- Lack of Migrations: The absence of database migration practices resulted in the schema being lost to time, so it is not provided in this repository.
- Reflection and Growth: This project serves as a valuable learning experience, highlighting both the potential and pitfalls of custom framework development.
- Possible Revival with Laravel: There's a possibility of revisiting and revamping this project in the future, potentially leveraging Laravel to enhance its structure and efficiency.