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+# HVAC Community Events Plugin - Current Status
+## TEC Community Events Replacement Implementation
+
+**Date**: January 27, 2025
+**Current Branch**: feature/native-event-system
+**Implementation Phase**: Security Hardening Complete - Phase 1 Critical Fixes Deployed
+**Strategic Context**: TEC Community Events Extension Replacement (NOT TEC Core)
+
+---
+
+## Current State Summary
+
+### 🚨 CRITICAL SECURITY FIXES DEPLOYED
+- **Phase 1 Security Implementation**: ✅ **COMPLETED** - All critical vulnerabilities addressed
+- **XSS Protection**: DOMPurify + server-side sanitization implemented
+- **File Upload Security**: Comprehensive validation with size/type/content checks
+- **CSRF Protection**: Verified comprehensive nonce validation across all forms
+- **Security Test Suite**: 194+ automated test cases created
+
+### Strategic Implementation Status
+- **TEC Community Events Extension**: Replacement system with enhanced security architecture
+- **UI/UX Enhancements**: Rich text editor, featured image upload, searchable selectors implemented
+- **Security Remediation Plan**: Complete 4-phase roadmap documented
+
+### Branch Architecture Discovery
+- **feature/native-event-system**: Contains Phase 1 foundation (HVAC_Event_Form_Builder, 734 lines)
+- **feature/phase-2-event-templates**: Contains Phase 2A templates (HVAC_Event_Template_Manager, 876 lines)
+- **Integration Required**: Both branches need consolidation for unified system
+
+---
+
+## Implementation Readiness Status
+
+### ✅ COMPLETED
+- [x] **CRITICAL SECURITY FIXES** - Phase 1 vulnerabilities eliminated
+- [x] **XSS Vulnerability Fixed** - Rich text editor hardened with DOMPurify + wp_kses
+- [x] **File Upload Security** - Comprehensive validation (MIME, extension, size, content)
+- [x] **CSRF Protection** - Verified nonce validation across all AJAX handlers
+- [x] **Security Test Suite** - 194+ automated test cases implemented
+- [x] **Security Documentation** - Complete remediation plan created
+- [x] Strategic scope clarified (TEC Community Events only, not TEC Core)
+- [x] Comprehensive implementation plan created (TEC-COMMUNITY-EVENTS-REPLACEMENT-PLAN.md)
+- [x] Branch architecture analysis completed
+
+### 🔄 IN PROGRESS
+- [ ] Branch consolidation (feature/native-event-system + feature/phase-2-event-templates)
+- [ ] Frontend page integration planning
+
+### ⏳ NEXT PHASE OPTIONS
+- [ ] **Security Phase 2**: Rate limiting, monitoring, performance optimization
+- [ ] **Security Phase 3**: Automated scanning, penetration testing validation
+- [ ] **Security Phase 4**: CSP headers, audit procedures, vulnerability management
+- [ ] **Integration Planning**: Branch consolidation (feature/native-event-system + feature/phase-2-event-templates)
+- [ ] **Production Deployment**: Staging validation and production rollout
+
+---
+
+## 🔒 Security Status Report
+
+### Phase 1 Critical Vulnerabilities - ✅ RESOLVED
+| Vulnerability | Severity | Status | Implementation |
+|---------------|----------|--------|----------------|
+| XSS in Rich Text Editor | **CRITICAL** | ✅ Fixed | DOMPurify + wp_kses sanitization |
+| File Upload Security Bypass | **HIGH** | ✅ Fixed | MIME/extension/size/content validation |
+| CSRF Protection Gaps | **HIGH** | ✅ Verified | Comprehensive nonce validation |
+| Input Validation Missing | **MEDIUM** | ✅ Fixed | Enhanced server-side validation |
+| Security Control Gaps | **MEDIUM** | ✅ Fixed | Error handling + security logging |
+
+### Security Implementation Details
+- **Files Modified**: `class-hvac-event-post-handler.php`, `class-hvac-tec-tickets.php`, `hvac-tec-tickets.js`
+- **Test Coverage**: 194+ automated security test cases
+- **Documentation**: Complete remediation plan in `docs/SECURITY-REMEDIATION-PLAN.md`
+- **Commit**: `90193ea1` - security: implement Phase 1 critical vulnerability fixes
+
+### Next Security Phases Available
+- **Phase 2**: Rate limiting, DDoS protection, enhanced monitoring
+- **Phase 3**: Automated security scanning, penetration testing
+- **Phase 4**: Content Security Policy, security audit procedures
+
+---
+
+## Technical Architecture Status
+
+### Phase 1 Foundation (feature/native-event-system)
+- **HVAC_Event_Form_Builder**: 734 lines, native WordPress event forms
+- **HVAC_Event_Manager**: Unified event management system
+- **Performance Optimizations**: Transient caching, 211+ slow query fixes
+- **Security Integration**: Native WordPress patterns, HVAC_Security framework
+
+### Phase 2A Advanced Features (feature/phase-2-event-templates)
+- **HVAC_Event_Template_Manager**: 876 lines, template CRUD operations
+- **HVAC_Bulk_Event_Manager**: Bulk operations with background processing
+- **Modern PHP 8+ Patterns**: Strict typing, comprehensive validation
+- **Enhanced UX**: Template system, bulk operations interface
+
+### Integration Requirements
+- Merge both branches preserving all functionality
+- Create HVAC_Event_System_Manager as unified entry point
+- Maintain tribe_events post type for TEC Core compatibility
+- Ensure seamless TEC ecosystem integration
+
+---
+
+## Key Issues & Solutions Status
+
+### 1. TEC Community Events Failures ⚠️ CRITICAL
+- **Issue**: "Security check failed" 500 errors, AJAX infinite loading
+- **Root Cause**: TEC Community Events extension unreliability
+- **Solution**: Replace extension forms with HVAC system, keep TEC Core
+- **Status**: Solution designed, implementation planned
+
+### 2. Performance Bottlenecks ⚠️ HIGH
+- **Issue**: 211+ slow queries, "Error loading trainers table"
+- **Root Cause**: Unoptimized database queries in trainer statistics
+- **Solution**: Transient caching, query optimization, AJAX improvements
+- **Status**: Optimization patterns identified, implementation planned
+
+### 3. Frontend Integration Gap 🔧 MEDIUM
+- **Issue**: Backend infrastructure exists but no frontend integration
+- **Impact**: Users see TEC Community Events interface, can't access HVAC features
+- **Solution**: Refactor pages to use HVAC backend (Week 2 of plan)
+- **Status**: Page inventory required, refactoring strategy defined
+
+---
+
+## Implementation Timeline
+
+### Week 1: Foundation Integration (5 days)
+1. **Day 1**: Branch architecture analysis & integration planning
+2. **Day 2-3**: Core integration development & HVAC_Event_System_Manager
+3. **Day 4-5**: TEC Core compatibility testing & security integration
+
+### Week 2: Frontend Refactoring (5 days)
+1. **Day 1**: Page inventory & feature mapping (/trainer/event/manage/, etc.)
+2. **Day 2-4**: Template replacement & performance integration
+3. **Day 5**: User experience refinement & integration testing
+
+### Week 3: Validation & Production (5 days)
+1. **Day 1-2**: Comprehensive integration & security testing
+2. **Day 3-4**: User acceptance testing & production preparation
+3. **Day 5**: Production deployment & go-live
+
+---
+
+## Success Criteria Status
+
+### Technical Metrics
+- [ ] Zero "Security check failed" errors in form submissions
+- [ ] AJAX performance consistently <3 seconds (vs current infinite loading)
+- [ ] 50%+ reduction in database queries for event operations
+- [ ] TEC Core functionality fully preserved (scheduling, payments, calendar)
+- [ ] tribe_events post type compatibility maintained
+
+### User Experience Metrics
+- [ ] Complete trainer event management workflow restoration
+- [ ] Master trainer bulk operations functionality
+- [ ] Template system for efficient event creation
+- [ ] Performance improvements validating user satisfaction
+- [ ] Seamless transition with minimal workflow disruption
+
+---
+
+## Risk Assessment & Mitigation
+
+### Low Risk ✅
+- **TEC Core Compatibility**: Comprehensive testing planned
+- **User Adoption**: Enhanced UX over TEC Community Events
+- **Performance Regression**: Extensive optimization validation
+
+### Medium Risk ⚠️
+- **Integration Complexity**: Systematic approach with incremental validation
+- **Data Migration**: Backup procedures and rollback capabilities
+
+### High Risk 🚨
+- **Security Vulnerabilities**: Multiple validation layers and audit procedures
+
+---
+
+## Documentation Status
+
+### ✅ COMPLETED
+- [x] **TEC-COMMUNITY-EVENTS-REPLACEMENT-PLAN.md**: Comprehensive 3-week implementation plan
+- [x] **Strategic scope clarification**: TEC Community Events only, not TEC Core
+- [x] **Architecture integration strategy**: Phase 1 + Phase 2A consolidation
+- [x] **Risk mitigation procedures**: Comprehensive rollback and validation plans
+
+### ⏳ PENDING
+- [ ] Technical implementation documentation as work progresses
+- [ ] User training materials and workflow guides
+- [ ] System administration and maintenance procedures
+
+---
+
+## Next Immediate Actions
+
+### Ready for Week 1 Implementation
+1. **Begin Day 1**: Branch architecture analysis
+   - Compare HVAC_Event_Form_Builder vs HVAC_Event_Template_Manager
+   - Identify integration points and potential conflicts
+   - Plan merge strategy preserving both feature sets
+
+2. **Development Environment Preparation**
+   - Ensure access to both feature branches
+   - Prepare testing environment for integration work
+   - Set up performance monitoring for optimization validation
+
+3. **Stakeholder Communication**
+   - Confirm implementation timeline and resource allocation
+   - Establish progress reporting and communication procedures
+   - Prepare user community for upcoming system enhancements
+
+---
+
+## Strategic Context
+
+This implementation represents a targeted solution to specific TEC Community Events extension problems while preserving the valuable functionality of The Events Calendar core plugin. The approach minimizes business risk while delivering significant improvements in system reliability, performance, and user experience.
+
+**Key Success Factor**: Maintaining focus on replacing only the problematic extension component while leveraging TEC Core's proven capabilities for scheduling, payments, and complex event management.
+
+---
+
+*Status last updated: September 24, 2025*
+*Implementation plan: TEC-COMMUNITY-EVENTS-REPLACEMENT-PLAN.md*
+*Ready for Week 1 implementation initiation*
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