- Implemented configurable public URL rewriting.

What changed:
Added pretty URL helpers/default setting in 
[includes/db.php](/Users/tyemeclifford/Documents/GH/mediaplayer/includes/db.php).
Added root rewrite rules in 
[.htaccess](/Users/tyemeclifford/Documents/GH/mediaplayer/.htaccess):/v/<slug>
/all
/search/<query>

Added Admin → Settings “Public URL Style” toggle in 
[admin/settings.php](/Users/tyemeclifford/Documents/GH/mediaplayer/admin/settings.php), 
defaulting to pretty URLs.
Updated public/player/catalogue/embed/admin preview links to use the 
configured URL style.
Added redirects from legacy ?v= and ?q= URLs to pretty routes when 
rewriting is enabled.
Documented deployment and fallback behavior in 
[README.md](/Users/tyemeclifford/Documents/GH/mediaplayer/README.md).

README.md

@@ -8,13 +8,14 @@ Styled to match the existing `gate.php` / `index.php` dark theme exactly.
 ## Requirements
 
 - PHP 8.0+ with `pdo_sqlite`, `fileinfo` extensions
+- Apache `mod_rewrite` for default pretty URLs, or switch to query URLs in Admin → Settings
 - Write permissions on the `data/` and `media/` directories
 
 ---
 
 ## Installation
 
-1. **Upload** all files to your web server (e.g. `/live/` or wherever `/index.php` lives).
+1. **Upload** all files to your web server. To use domain-level pretty URLs such as `/v/my-video`, deploy the app at the web root.
 
 2. **Set permissions** so PHP can write to these directories:
    ```bash
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ Styled to match the existing `gate.php` / `index.php` dark theme exactly.
 /                        ← web root (deploy here)
 ├── index.php            ← Main player + catalogue (home page)
 ├── catalogue.php        ← Full video catalogue browse page
+├── .htaccess            ← Pretty URL rewrite rules
 ├── includes/
 │   ├── db.php           ← SQLite bootstrap + helper functions
 │   └── layout.php       ← Shared HTML head, topbar, footer, pagination
@@ -84,6 +86,16 @@ Use **Admin → YouTube Importer** to paste a YouTube channel URL, `@handle`, or
 
 The full catalogue page includes a public search for published videos only. Search matches video title, description, and slug; draft videos remain hidden.
 
+### Public URLs
+
+Pretty URLs are enabled by default:
+
+- `/v/<slug>` plays a video
+- `/all` lists all public videos
+- `/search/<query>` searches public videos
+
+You can switch to PHP query URLs in **Admin → Settings → Public URL Style** if your host does not support `.htaccess` rewrites.
+
 ### Catalogue Per-Page
 
 Configurable in **Admin → Settings → Videos per page** (1–50).