# Overview

SAPIENS is a comprehensive media platform that aggregates news and content from various media outlets organized into three categories: People, Topics, and Companies. The platform features a sophisticated auction system for media outlet management rights, prediction markets tied to articles, and a multi-tier admin system. Users can browse media outlets, read articles, participate in prediction markets, and bid on management rights through an eBay-style auction system.

# User Preferences

Preferred communication style: Simple, everyday language.

# System Architecture

## Frontend Architecture
- **Framework**: React with TypeScript using Vite for build tooling
- **Styling**: Tailwind CSS with shadcn/ui component library for consistent design
- **Routing**: Wouter for client-side routing
- **State Management**: TanStack Query for server state and data fetching
- **Authentication**: Integrated with Replit Auth system

## Backend Architecture
- **Framework**: Express.js with TypeScript
- **Database**: PostgreSQL with Drizzle ORM for type-safe database operations
- **Authentication**: Replit-based OAuth with session management
- **API Design**: RESTful API with structured error handling

## Database Design
The system uses a PostgreSQL database with the following core entities:
- **Users**: Supports role-based access (user, admin, superadmin)
- **Media Outlets**: Categorized entities (people, topics, companies) with slugs and metadata
- **Articles**: Content with rich text, images, and association to media outlets
- **Prediction Markets**: Betting markets linked to articles with yes/no pricing
- **Auctions**: eBay-style bidding system for media outlet management rights
- **Bids**: Individual auction bids with quality scoring
- **Comments**: User-generated content on articles
- **Community Posts**: DC Inside-style forum posts for each media outlet with views, likes, and replies
- **Community Replies**: Threaded replies to community posts

## Authentication & Authorization
- **Multi-tier Access**: Three user roles with escalating permissions
- **Session Management**: PostgreSQL-backed sessions with configurable TTL
- **Route Protection**: Middleware-based authentication checks for protected routes

## Key Features
- **Category-based Navigation**: Tabbed interface for People, Topics, Companies
- **Dual View Modes**: Grid and list views for article browsing
- **Auction System**: Real-time bidding with quality score integration
- **Prediction Markets**: Integration with external prediction market APIs
- **Admin Dashboards**: Role-specific management interfaces with article CRUD operations
- **Content Management**: Rich article creation, editing, and deletion with media outlet administration
- **DC Inside-style Community**: Forum-style discussion boards for each media outlet with posts, replies, likes, and sorting options
- **Community Features**: Post creation, threaded replies, view counts, like system, and multiple sort options (latest, views, likes, replies)

# External Dependencies

## Database & Infrastructure
- **Neon Database**: Serverless PostgreSQL hosting
- **Drizzle ORM**: Type-safe database queries and migrations
- **Replit Auth**: OAuth authentication provider

## UI & Styling
- **shadcn/ui**: Pre-built accessible UI components
- **Radix UI**: Primitive components for complex interactions
- **Tailwind CSS**: Utility-first CSS framework
- **Lucide Icons**: Icon library for consistent iconography

## Development Tools
- **Vite**: Fast build tool with HMR for development
- **TypeScript**: Type safety across the full stack
- **TanStack Query**: Server state management and caching
- **React Hook Form**: Form handling with validation

## Third-party Integrations
- **Kalshi API**: External prediction market data (referenced in user requirements)
- **Image Services**: Unsplash for placeholder images and media content
- **Session Storage**: connect-pg-simple for PostgreSQL session management