SmallMart v6.1.5.5.5.0 - Complete Guide

Welcome to SmallMart v6.1.5.5.5.0, the ultimate professional e-commerce platform with enhanced mod system, theme builder, and comprehensive marketplace features.

Lightning Fast

Single-file PHP solution with minimal footprint and maximum performance

Enhanced Mod System

15+ built-in professional mods with custom mod upload capability

Theme Builder

10+ pre-built themes with live preview and export/import functionality

PayPal Integration

Complete payment processing with sandbox mode for testing

User Accounts

Customer registration/login, password reset, email verification, and account settings

Stripe Ready

Stripe keys + webhook fields in Admin settings (enable Stripe in Payment Methods)

Backlink License Toggle

Footer backlink to SmallMart.Site enforced unless license is paid (Admin → License)

Package Mods & Folder Themes

Third-party devs can drop in /mods/<id> and /themes/<id> packages with JSON manifests

Advanced Analytics

Professional dashboard with sales tracking and performance metrics

Fully Responsive

Modern design that works perfectly on all devices and screen sizes

System Requirements

SmallMart is designed to run on most modern web hosting environments with minimal requirements:

Minimum Requirements

Component Requirement
PHP Version 7.4 or higher (8.0+ recommended)
PHP Extensions JSON, cURL, GD/ImageMagick (for image processing)
Web Server Apache, Nginx, or any server with PHP support
Database None required (uses JSON files)
Storage At least 50MB free space
Memory 128MB RAM minimum
Note: SmallMart doesn't require a traditional database system. All data is stored in JSON files, making it extremely portable and easy to deploy.

Installation Guide

Follow these steps to install SmallMart on your web server:

1

Download and Upload

Upload the index.php file to your web server's root directory or a subdirectory of your choice.

# Upload via FTP/SFTP or control panel file manager
# Place index.php in your web-accessible directory
2

Set Directory Permissions

Ensure the following directories are writable by the web server (usually permission 755 or 775):

/data/
/uploads/
/mods/
/themes/
/logs/

These directories will be created automatically if they don't exist.

3

Access Your Site

Navigate to your domain in a web browser. The system will automatically initialize all required files and directories.

https://yourdomain.com/ (if in root directory)
https://yourdomain.com/marketplace/ (if in subdirectory)
4

Access Admin Panel

Right-click on the logo in the top-left corner to access the admin login. Use the default password:

Default Password: demopass

Change this password immediately in the admin settings for security.

Success! Your SmallMart installation is now complete and ready to use.

Configuration Guide

Customize your SmallMart installation through the admin panel:

Basic Settings

Navigate to Admin Panel → Settings to configure:

  • Site Title: Your marketplace name
  • Tagline: Brief description of your site
  • Theme: Choose from 10+ pre-built themes
  • Currency: Set your preferred currency symbol
  • Timezone: Set your local timezone
  • Items Per Page: Control how many items display per page

Payment Methods

Enable and configure payment options:

  • PayPal: Set your PayPal email for payments
  • Contact Seller: Allow customers to contact sellers directly
  • Sandbox Mode: Test PayPal integration without real transactions

Selling Modes

Configure which selling methods are available:

  • Buy It Now: Fixed price items
  • Auction: Bidding system
  • Make Offer: Allow price negotiation

Admin Panel Guide

The SmallMart admin panel provides complete control over your marketplace:

Dashboard

Overview of your marketplace performance with key metrics and recent activity

Items Management

Add, edit, delete, and organize products with advanced categorization

Orders & Transactions

Track all customer orders and payment transactions

Mods Management

Enable/disable built-in mods and upload custom modifications

Theme Builder

Create custom themes with live preview and export functionality

System Console

Monitor system logs, performance, and debug issues

Adding Products

To add products to your marketplace:

  1. Go to Admin Panel → Add Item
  2. Fill in product details (title, description, price)
  3. Upload product images (up to 50 images per item)
  4. Set category, condition, and stock quantity
  5. Configure payment options for this specific item
  6. Save and publish your item

Mod System Guide

SmallMart includes a powerful mod system with 15+ built-in professional mods:

Built-in Mods

Mod Name Description Status
Advanced Search & Filters Pro Professional search with price ranges and multiple filters Active
Custom Theme Builder Pro Professional theme builder with live preview Active
PayPal Payment Gateway Simple PayPal integration using email address Active
Social Media Integration Suite Complete social sharing with 10+ platforms Active
Professional Analytics Dashboard Enterprise-grade analytics with real-time tracking Active
SEO Optimization Engine Automatic SEO with meta tags, sitemaps, and schema markup Active

Custom Mod Development

You can create and upload your own custom mods:

  1. Go to Admin Panel → Mods → Upload Custom
  2. Create a PHP file with the proper mod header structure
  3. Use the SmallMartModAPI class for integration
  4. Upload your mod file through the admin interface
<?php
/*
SmallMart Mod: My Custom Mod
Description: Adds custom functionality
Version: 1.0.0
Author: Your Name
*/

function my_custom_mod_init() {
    SmallMartModAPI::addHook('item_view', 'my_custom_handler');
}

function my_custom_handler($data) {
    // Your custom logic here
    return $data;
}

my_custom_mod_init();

Theme System Guide

SmallMart includes 10 professionally designed themes and a powerful theme builder:

Built-in Themes

  • Professional Dark (Default): Modern dark theme with gold accents
  • Ocean Blue: Cool blue gradient with modern typography
  • Forest Green: Nature-inspired green theme
  • Sunset Orange: Warm orange and red gradient
  • Royal Purple: Luxury purple theme with elegant fonts
  • Crimson Red: Bold red theme for high-impact visuals
  • Minimalist White: Clean, light theme for readability
  • Cyberpunk Neon: Futuristic theme with neon accents
  • Autumn Warmth: Seasonal theme with warm earth tones
  • Arctic Ice: Cool blue and white theme

Custom Theme Builder

Create your own custom themes with the built-in theme builder:

  1. Go to Admin Panel → Theme Builder
  2. Use the live preview to see changes in real-time
  3. Customize colors, fonts, and styling
  4. Save your custom theme
  5. Export/import themes to share with other installations

PayPal Integration Guide

Set up PayPal payments for your marketplace:

1

Configure PayPal Settings

Go to Admin Panel → Settings and scroll to the PayPal section:

  • Enter your PayPal email address
  • Enable sandbox mode for testing (recommended initially)
  • Save your settings
2

Test Payments

Use PayPal sandbox for testing without real money:

  1. Enable sandbox mode in settings
  2. Create test buyer and seller accounts at developer.paypal.com
  3. Use test credentials to simulate transactions
  4. Verify orders appear in your admin panel
3

Go Live

When ready to accept real payments:

  1. Disable sandbox mode in settings
  2. Ensure your PayPal email is correct
  3. Test with a small real transaction
  4. Monitor orders in your admin panel
Important: Always test PayPal integration thoroughly before going live with real transactions.

Troubleshooting Guide

Common issues and their solutions:

Installation Issues

Problem Solution
White screen after installation Check PHP error logs, ensure all directories are writable
Images not uploading Check uploads directory permissions (755 or 775)
Admin login not working Use default password "demopass" or reset via file editor
PayPal payments failing Verify PayPal email, check sandbox mode setting

Using the System Console

The System Console (Admin Panel → Console) provides valuable debugging information:

  • System Log: General system activity and errors
  • Error Log: PHP errors and warnings
  • Admin Log: Admin panel activity tracking
  • Mod Log: Custom mod activity and errors

Backup and Recovery

Regularly backup your SmallMart installation:

  1. Use the built-in backup feature (Admin Panel → Backup)
  2. Manually download the /data/ directory
  3. Keep copies of custom mods and themes
  4. Store backups in a secure location

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Is SmallMart really just one PHP file?

Yes! The entire application is contained in a single PHP file for maximum portability and ease of deployment.

Do I need a database?

No, SmallMart uses JSON files for data storage, eliminating the need for a traditional database system.

Can I customize the design?

Absolutely! Use the built-in theme builder or create custom CSS to match your brand.

Technical Questions

What PHP version is required?

PHP 7.4 or higher is required, with PHP 8.0+ recommended for best performance.

How do I update SmallMart?

Simply replace the index.php file with the new version. Your data will be preserved.

Can I use it on shared hosting?

Yes, SmallMart works perfectly on most shared hosting environments.

Feature Questions

How many products can I list?

There's no hard limit, but performance is optimized for thousands of products.

Can multiple users sell on my marketplace?

Currently, SmallMart is designed for single-store operations, but multi-vendor features are planned for future versions.

Is there mobile app support?

The website is fully responsive and works perfectly on mobile devices. A dedicated mobile app is not included.