Tool Dude – AI Tools And Website Directory CMS is a self-hosted PHP and MySQL platform for creating an AI tools directory, SaaS listing website, startup showcase or general website directory.

Manage tool submissions, user reviews, ratings, favorites, side-by-side comparisons and blog content from a centralized admin dashboard. The platform also includes advertising placements, sponsored listings, affiliate URLs and built-in SEO features to help you organize and monetize your directory.

Key capabilities include:

• Directory management: Add and manage AI tools, SaaS products and website listings with categories, features, pros, cons, use cases and pricing information.

• User engagement: Allow visitors to submit reviews, rate tools, save favorites and compare multiple tools.

• Blog publishing: Create blog posts with categories, comments and moderation.

• Monetization options: Manage advertisements, sponsored listings, packages and affiliate URLs.

• SEO tools: Configure metadata, schema markup, sitemap and analytics integrations.

• Social login: Support Google, Facebook and GitHub login.

• Customizable design: Manage homepage sections, colors, logos, dark mode and custom CSS/JavaScript.

• Progressive Web App: Provide an installable, PWA-ready website experience.

Tool Dude uses plain PHP and MySQL, without requiring Laravel, Composer or Node.js. Its 10-step installation wizard guides you through the initial setup.

It is suitable for developers, entrepreneurs and website owners who want to build and manage their own directory platform.

• AI tool and website submission management

• Custom categories with icons, colors, banners and SEO fields

• User reviews, star ratings and review moderation

• Favorites and side-by-side comparison of 2–4 tools

• Tool ownership claim system

• Blog engine with categories and comments

• Comment moderation and reporting

• Advertising manager with 9 placement positions

• Image banners, custom HTML/JavaScript and AdSense code support

• Advertisement impression and click tracking

• Sponsored listings and packages

• Bulk tool import through CSV

• SEO schema markup and automatic sitemap generation

• Google, Facebook and GitHub social login

• SMTP and email configuration with test email

• PWA support and add-to-home-screen functionality

• Homepage section management

• Theme colors, logo, favicon and dark mode settings

• Custom CSS and JavaScript support

• Multiple administrator accounts and activity logs

• FAQ manager and newsletter signup

• Database backup tool

• PHP 8.1 or higher

• MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.3+

• PDO and pdo_mysql

• cURL and OpenSSL

• GD or Imagick

• Mbstring

• Fileinfo

• Zip and JSON

• Apache mod_rewrite or equivalent server rewrite support

• Approximately 50 MB disk space for the script and uploads

• Writable permissions for the required upload, storage, cache, configuration and backup directories

• No Node.js, Composer or Laravel required