Here are list of changes made to original code base:

Functionality & Features

• Multi-file Upload:
  Allows users to upload multiple files at once, which improves efficiency and user experience.

• File Editing:
  Built-in editing functionality for text-based files enables quick modifications without leaving the interface.

• Batch Deleting:
  The ability to select multiple files and delete them in one action streamlines file management.

• Sorting & Filtering:
  Users can sort files by various attributes (name, date modified, uploaded date, size, uploader), making navigation easier.

• User Management:
  Incorporates secure authentication (with hashed passwords) and admin-only controls for adding new users.

Security

• Password Hashing:
  Using PHP's password_hash() and password_verify() ensures that user credentials are securely stored and verified.

• Session-based Authentication:
  Leveraging PHP sessions to maintain secure user state across the application.

• Access Control:
  Admins have extra privileges (such as creating new users), which is properly enforced via session checks and restricted endpoints.

• Safe File Operations:
  File metadata (including uploader info) is stored securely in JSON, helping avoid direct exposure of sensitive details.

User Experience & Interface

• Responsive Design:
  The layout adapts to different screen sizes, ensuring a good experience on both desktop and mobile devices.

• Dynamic UI Updates:
  Uses modern JavaScript (Fetch API, asynchronous calls) to update the file list and authentication state without full page reloads.

• Clear Feedback:
  Users receive immediate alerts and visual feedback for actions like login, file upload, and deletion.

Extensibility & Maintainability

• Modular Code Structure:
  The project is divided into distinct files (auth.js, upload.js, displayFileList.js, etc.), which makes it easier to manage and extend.

• Customization Options:
  The codebase is flexible enough to allow the addition of more file types, new features (e.g., versioning, file previews), or integration with other systems.

• Good Practices Demonstrated:
  The project illustrates the use of best practices in PHP (such as session management and secure password handling) and modern front-end JavaScript, making it a valuable learning resource.

Deployment & Real-world Use

• Reverse Proxy Compatibility:
  With proper server configuration and security measures, this project can be deployed behind a reverse proxy, offering an extra layer of security.

• Real-world Scenario:
  A multi-file uploader with editing and user management is useful in many environments—whether for managing firmware, documents, images, or any files—making this a practical solution.

Original readme:

File Uploader

A simple file uploader web app that allows authenticated users to upload, list, and delete files. The application uses PHP, running on Apache2, Ubuntu (but definitely should work everywhere).

Prerequisites

• Apache2, configured, up and running
• PHP 8.1 or higher
• Required PHP extensions: php-json, php-curl

Hint:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2
sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php