README.md - Student Registration System

Description

A Java Swing desktop application for student registration and authentication. The system provides a secure login interface and a comprehensive registration form with database integration. Students can register with their personal details, and the application automatically handles minor students by requiring guardian information. The system uses MySQL for data persistence and follows a simple client-server architecture.

Features

• User Registration: Complete student registration with validation
• Secure Login: Username/password authentication system
• Minor Handling: Automatic guardian information collection for underage students
• Database Integration: MySQL backend with JDBC connectivity
• Responsive GUI: Java Swing interface with dynamic form elements
• Data Validation: Input validation for age and required fields
• Session Management: Automatic window transitions between registration and login

Prerequisites

Before running this application, ensure you have:

1. Java Development Kit (JDK) 8 or higher

   • Download from: https://adoptium.net/
   • Verify installation: java -version

2. MySQL Database Server

   • Download from: https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/
   • Or use XAMPP/WAMP for easy setup

3. MySQL Connector/J

   • Included in the project (mysql-connector-j-9.2.0.jar)

4. Text Editor or IDE

   • IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, or VS Code recommended

Project Structure

student-registration-system/
├── src/
│   └── main/
│       └── java/
│           └── com/
│               └── demo/
│                   ├── DatabaseConnection.java
│                   ├── LoginGUI.java
│                   ├── RegistrationGUI.java
│                   └── Main.java
├── lib/
│   └── mysql-connector-j-9.2.0.jar
├── database/
│   └── student_registration.sql
├── README.md
└── .gitignore

How to Run

Step 1: Set Up the Database

1. Open MySQL command line or phpMyAdmin
2. Create the database and table:

   mysql -u root -p < database/student_registration.sql

3. Or run the SQL commands manually:

   CREATE DATABASE student_registration;
   USE student_registration;
   
   CREATE TABLE students (
       student_id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
       username VARCHAR(255) UNIQUE NOT NULL,
       password VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
       name VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
       age INT NOT NULL,
       is_minor BOOLEAN NOT NULL,
       guardian_name VARCHAR(255),
       guardian_contact VARCHAR(255)
   );

Step 2: Configure Database Connection

1. Open DatabaseConnection.java
2. Update the database credentials:

   private static final String USERNAME = "your_mysql_username";
   private static final String PASSWORD = "your_mysql_password";

3. If using a different database name or host, update:

   private static final String JDBC_URL = "jdbc:mysql://localhost:3306/student_registration";

Step 3: Compile and Run

Option A: Using Command Line

1. Navigate to project root:

   cd student-registration-system

2. Compile all Java files:

   javac -cp "lib/mysql-connector-j-9.2.0.jar" src/main/java/com/demo/*.java -d out/

3. Run the application:

   java -cp "out:lib/mysql-connector-j-9.2.0.jar" com.demo.RegistrationGUI

   Or to start with login:

   java -cp "out:lib/mysql-connector-j-9.2.0.jar" com.demo.LoginGUI

Option B: Using IDE (IntelliJ/Eclipse)

1. Create new Java project in your IDE
2. Set up project structure as shown above
3. Add MySQL connector to libraries:
   • Right-click project → Build Path → Add External Archives
   • Select mysql-connector-j-9.2.0.jar
4. Run RegistrationGUI.java or LoginGUI.java

Option C: Create a Main.java (Recommended)

Create a new file Main.java in src/main/java/com/demo/:

package com.demo;

import javax.swing.*;

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        // Ask user if they want to register or login
        String[] options = {"Register", "Login", "Exit"};
        int choice = JOptionPane.showOptionDialog(null,
                "Welcome to Student System\nChoose an option:",
                "Student System",
                JOptionPane.DEFAULT_OPTION,
                JOptionPane.INFORMATION_MESSAGE,
                null,
                options,
                options[0]);

        switch (choice) {
            case 0: // Register
                SwingUtilities.invokeLater(() -> new RegistrationGUI());
                break;
            case 1: // Login
                SwingUtilities.invokeLater(() -> new LoginGUI());
                break;
            case 2: // Exit
                System.exit(0);
                break;
            default:
                System.exit(0);
        }
    }
}

Creating the Project Structure

For Windows:

mkdir student-registration-system
cd student-registration-system
mkdir src\main\java\com\demo
mkdir lib
mkdir database

For macOS/Linux:

mkdir -p student-registration-system/src/main/java/com/demo
mkdir -p student-registration-system/lib
mkdir -p student-registration-system/database
cd student-registration-system

Place Files in Correct Folders:

1. Move these files to src/main/java/com/demo/:

   • DatabaseConnection.java
   • LoginGUI.java
   • RegistrationGUI.java
   • Main.java (if created)

2. Place mysql-connector-j-9.2.0.jar in lib/ folder

3. Place student_registration.sql in database/ folder

Troubleshooting

Common Errors & Solutions:

1. "Class not found" error:

   # Make sure classpath includes the jar file
   java -cp ".:lib/mysql-connector-j-9.2.0.jar" com.demo.LoginGUI

2. MySQL connection failed:

   • Check if MySQL service is running
   • Verify username/password in DatabaseConnection.java
   • Ensure database exists: SHOW DATABASES;

3. "Access denied" error:

   -- Grant privileges in MySQL:
   GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON student_registration.* TO 'username'@'localhost';
   FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

4. GUI not appearing:

   • Run with SwingUtilities.invokeLater() to ensure thread safety
   • Check for error messages in console

Security Note

Important: This application stores passwords as plain text for simplicity. For production use:

1. Hash passwords using BCrypt or SHA-256
2. Use prepared statements to prevent SQL injection
3. Store credentials in environment variables, not hardcoded
4. Add SSL encryption for database connections

Testing the Application

1. Test Registration:

   • Fill all fields
   • Check "Minor" to see guardian fields appear
   • Submit and verify success message

2. Test Login:

   • Use registered credentials
   • Try wrong credentials to see error message
   • Verify successful login opens new window

Future Enhancements

• Add password hashing for security
• Implement email verification
• Add admin panel for user management
• Include data export to CSV/PDF
• Add profile picture upload
• Implement password recovery system

License

This project is for educational purposes. Feel free to modify and distribute.

Support

For issues or questions:

1. Check the troubleshooting section
2. Ensure all prerequisites are installed
3. Verify database connection settings
4. Check console for error messages

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