# AeThex LIVE - Complete Platform Architecture

## System Overview

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│         AeThex LIVE Creator Platform               │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                     │
│  Frontend (Next.js)                                │
│  ├─ Creator Dashboard                             │
│  ├─ Watch Page (Single Stream)                    │
│  ├─ Discovery/Browse                              │
│  ├─ User Profiles                                 │
│  ├─ Community Channels                            │
│  └─ Creator Monetization UI                       │
│                                                     │
│  Backend (Node.js/Next.js API Routes)            │
│  ├─ Authentication (Clerk)                        │
│  ├─ User Management                               │
│  ├─ Channel/Stream Management                     │
│  ├─ VOD Management                                │
│  ├─ Real-time Chat (Socket.io)                    │
│  ├─ Monetization/Payments (Stripe)                │
│  ├─ Analytics & Reports                           │
│  └─ Content Moderation                            │
│                                                     │
│  Database (PostgreSQL on Railway)                 │
│  ├─ Users & Profiles                              │
│  ├─ Channels & Streams                            │
│  ├─ VOD/Clips                                     │
│  ├─ Chat/Messages                                 │
│  ├─ Social Graph (Followers)                      │
│  ├─ Monetization (Subscriptions, Donations)       │
│  ├─ Polls & Interactions                          │
│  └─ Analytics                                     │
│                                                     │
│  Services                                          │
│  ├─ Streaming (Cloudflare/Mux)                    │
│  ├─ Storage (Cloudflare R2/S3)                    │
│  ├─ Video Processing (FFmpeg)                     │
│  ├─ Cache (Redis on Railway)                      │
│  └─ Email (Resend/SendGrid)                       │
│                                                     │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

## Data Models

### Core Entities
- **User** - Creator/Viewer accounts
- **Channel** - Creator's channel (can have multiple)
- **Stream** - Live streaming session
- **VOD** - Video on demand (archived stream)
- **Clip** - User-created highlight clip
- **ChatMessage** - Stream chat
- **Follower** - Social graph
- **Subscription** - Paid membership
- **Donation/Tip** - One-time payment
- **Poll** - Live poll/interaction
- **Leaderboard** - Gaming/competition rankings

### Features by Priority

#### Phase 1: Foundation (Current)
- [x] HLS streaming player
- [ ] User authentication
- [ ] Basic profiles
- [ ] Real-time chat

#### Phase 2: Multi-Channel & Discovery
- [ ] Multi-channel support
- [ ] Stream discovery/browse
- [ ] Search & recommendations
- [ ] Follow system

#### Phase 3: Creator Tools
- [ ] Creator dashboard
- [ ] Stream analytics
- [ ] VOD archives
- [ ] Basic clip creation

#### Phase 4: Monetization
- [ ] Subscriptions
- [ ] Donations/tips
- [ ] Payout system
- [ ] Revenue analytics

#### Phase 5: Community & Engagement
- [ ] Community channels
- [ ] Polls & reactions
- [ ] Gifting
- [ ] User badges/roles

#### Phase 6: Advanced Features
- [ ] Gaming tournaments
- [ ] Leaderboards
- [ ] Music/DJ mode
- [ ] Clips & highlights
- [ ] Auto-moderation
- [ ] Notifications

## Tech Stack

**Frontend**
- Next.js 16 (React 19)
- TypeScript
- Tailwind CSS
- Socket.io client
- Stripe React

**Backend**
- Next.js API Routes
- Node.js
- Socket.io server
- Prisma ORM

**Database**
- PostgreSQL (Railway)
- Redis (Upstash/Railway)

**Authentication**
- Clerk (or NextAuth.js)

**Payments**
- Stripe

**Streaming**
- Cloudflare Stream or Mux

**Storage**
- Cloudflare R2 or AWS S3

**Real-time**
- Socket.io

## Database Schema

See `docs/DATABASE_SCHEMA.md`

## API Structure

See `docs/API_STRUCTURE.md`

## Implementation Order

1. Set up Prisma & PostgreSQL
2. User authentication (Clerk)
3. Channel & stream creation
4. Real-time chat
5. VOD storage
6. Follow system
7. Basic dashboard
8. Stripe integration
9. Advanced features

---

**Ready to build the complete platform!**