Hi everyone,
I’m planning to host a web-based tracker for the daily NYT Letter Boxed puzzle using a server managed by Virtualmin/Webmin, and I’d appreciate some guidance on best practices for setting up, automating, and securing the environment.
What I’m Building
I want to create a site that:
- Displays the daily Letter Boxed puzzle grid
- Stores solutions (minimum 2 words required)
- Tracks user submissions and solve statistics
- Shows historical puzzle data and analytics (like average solve time)
This will be powered by a database and preferably updated automatically each day.
What I Need Help With
1. Best Server Setup Practices
- Recommended OS for Virtualmin to host a database + web app
- Optimal web stack (Apache vs Nginx, PHP/Node/Python support)
2. Automation for Fetching Daily Puzzle Data
I want a script or cron job that:
- Fetches puzzle data daily
- Updates the database automatically
- Ensures the site displays the latest puzzle
What’s the best way to set this up in Virtualmin?
Should I use cron jobs, Virtualmin scheduled tasks, or another method?
3. Database Integration
I’m planning on using MySQL/MariaDB and want to:
- Create tables for puzzle metadata, solutions, and stats
- Ensure efficient queries for historical analytics
Any suggestions on schema design would be welcome.
4. Security Recommendations
Since this will involve user inputs (solutions and stats), how do I best:
- Secure the web app
- Back up data automatically
- Handle updates/patches via Virtualmin
If anyone has experience with hosting dynamic apps or scheduled data pulls on Virtualmin especially involving daily automated updates I’d really appreciate your insights!
Thanks in advance! 
