Solution Components

There are a number of components we will need to fulfil the requirements. The main ones are setting up a database of lists, subscribers, and archived newsletters; uploading newsletters that have been created offline; and sending mail with attachments.

Setting Up a Database of Lists and Subscribers

We will track the username and password of each system user, as well as a list of the lists they have subscribed to. We will also store each user's preference for receiving text or HTML email, so we can send a user the appropriate version of the newsletter.

An administrator will be a specialized user with the ability to create new mailing lists and send newsletters to those lists.

A nice piece of functionality to have for a system like this is an archive of previous newsletters. Subscribers might not keep previous postings, but might want to look something up. An archive can also act as a marketing tool for the newsletter as potential subscribers can see what the newsletters are like.

Setting up this database in MySQL and an interface to it in PHP will have nothing new or difficult in it.