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+# Delphi Database
+
+A legal case management database application built with FastAPI, SQLAlchemy, and modern Python practices.
+
+## Database Configuration
+
+The application uses SQLAlchemy ORM with support for multiple database backends.
+
+### Environment Variables
+
+Configure your database connection using environment variables:
+
+```bash
+# SQLite (default for development)
+DATABASE_URL=sqlite:///./delphi.db
+
+# PostgreSQL (production example)
+DATABASE_URL=postgresql://username:password@localhost:5432/delphi_db
+
+# MySQL (alternative)
+DATABASE_URL=mysql://username:password@localhost:3306/delphi_db
+```
+
+### Database Models
+
+The application includes the following models:
+
+- **User**: Authentication and user management
+- **Client**: Client/contact information
+- **Phone**: Phone numbers linked to clients
+- **Case**: Legal cases with unique file numbers
+- **Transaction**: Financial transactions for cases
+- **Document**: Case-related documents
+- **Payment**: Payment records for cases
+
+### Database Connection Management
+
+The `app/database.py` module provides:
+
+- **Database engine configuration** with connection pooling and error handling
+- **Session management** with automatic cleanup via FastAPI dependency injection
+- **Table creation utilities** for application startup
+- **Connection health monitoring** via the `/health` endpoint
+
+### Usage Examples
+
+#### Basic Application Startup
+
+```python
+from fastapi import FastAPI, Depends
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
+from app.database import get_db
+
+@app.get("/clients/")
+async def get_clients(db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+    # Use the database session
+    return db.query(Client).all()
+```
+
+#### Health Check
+
+The `/health` endpoint verifies database connectivity:
+
+```bash
+curl http://localhost:8000/health
+# {"status": "healthy", "database": "connected", "users": 0}
+```
+
+## Getting Started
+
+1. Install dependencies:
+   ```bash
+   pip install -r requirements.txt
+   ```
+
+2. Configure your database in environment variables (see `.env` file)
+
+3. Run the application:
+   ```bash
+   uvicorn app.main:app --reload
+   ```
+
+4. Access the API at `http://localhost:8000`
+
+## Project Structure
+
+```
+app/
+├── main.py          # FastAPI application entry point
+├── database.py      # Database configuration and session management
+├── models.py        # SQLAlchemy models
+└── templates/       # HTML templates
+```
+
+## Development
+
+- Database tables are automatically created on application startup
+- Use the health check endpoint to verify database connectivity
+- Environment variables control database configuration (never hardcode credentials)
+- SQLAlchemy provides type-safe database operations with relationship management
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diff --git a/app/database.py b/app/database.py
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+"""
+Database configuration and connection management for Delphi Database application.
+
+This module handles SQLAlchemy engine creation, session management, and provides
+database connection utilities for the FastAPI application.
+"""
+
+import os
+from typing import Generator
+
+from sqlalchemy import create_engine
+from sqlalchemy.ext.declarative import declarative_base
+from sqlalchemy.orm import sessionmaker, Session
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+# Load environment variables from .env file
+load_dotenv()
+
+# Database configuration from environment variables
+DATABASE_URL = os.getenv(
+    "DATABASE_URL",
+    "sqlite:///./delphi.db"  # Default to SQLite for development
+)
+
+# Create SQLAlchemy engine
+engine = create_engine(
+    DATABASE_URL,
+    connect_args={"check_same_thread": False} if "sqlite" in DATABASE_URL else {},
+    pool_pre_ping=True,  # Verify connections before reuse
+    echo=False  # Set to True for SQL query logging in development
+)
+
+# Create session factory
+SessionLocal = sessionmaker(autocommit=False, autoflush=False, bind=engine)
+
+# Create declarative base for models
+Base = declarative_base()
+
+
+def get_db() -> Generator[Session, None, None]:
+    """
+    Dependency function that provides a database session.
+
+    Yields a database session and ensures it's properly closed after use.
+    Used as a FastAPI dependency in route handlers.
+
+    Yields:
+        Session: SQLAlchemy database session
+
+    Example:
+        @app.get("/items/")
+        async def read_items(db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+            return db.query(Item).all()
+    """
+    db = SessionLocal()
+    try:
+        yield db
+    finally:
+        db.close()
+
+
+def create_tables() -> None:
+    """
+    Create all database tables defined in SQLAlchemy models.
+
+    This function should be called during application startup to ensure
+    all tables exist in the database.
+    """
+    Base.metadata.create_all(bind=engine)
+
+
+def get_database_url() -> str:
+    """
+    Get the current database URL (with sensitive info masked).
+
+    Returns:
+        str: Database URL with password masked for logging
+    """
+    if "sqlite" in DATABASE_URL:
+        return DATABASE_URL
+
+    # For PostgreSQL/MySQL, mask the password
+    if "@" in DATABASE_URL:
+        parts = DATABASE_URL.split("@")
+        if "://" in parts[0]:
+            protocol_and_auth = parts[0].split("://")[1]
+            if ":" in protocol_and_auth:
+                user_pass, host_port = protocol_and_auth.split(":", 1)
+                return DATABASE_URL.replace(user_pass, "****")
+
+    return "****://****:****@****/****"
diff --git a/app/main.py b/app/main.py
index 0110a0f..1551825 100644
--- a/app/main.py
+++ b/app/main.py
@@ -1 +1,85 @@
-# FastAPI application entry point
+"""
+FastAPI application entry point for Delphi Database.
+
+This module initializes the FastAPI application, sets up database connections,
+and provides the main application instance.
+"""
+
+import logging
+from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
+
+from fastapi import FastAPI, Depends
+from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
+
+from .database import create_tables, get_db, get_database_url
+from .models import User
+
+
+# Configure logging
+logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def lifespan(app: FastAPI):
+    """
+    Lifespan context manager for FastAPI application.
+
+    Handles startup and shutdown events:
+    - Creates database tables on startup
+    - Logs database connection info
+    """
+    # Startup
+    logger.info("Starting Delphi Database application...")
+
+    # Create database tables
+    create_tables()
+    logger.info("Database tables created/verified")
+
+    # Log database connection info
+    db_url = get_database_url()
+    logger.info(f"Database connected: {db_url}")
+
+    yield
+
+    # Shutdown
+    logger.info("Shutting down Delphi Database application...")
+
+
+# Create FastAPI application with lifespan management
+app = FastAPI(
+    title="Delphi Database",
+    description="Legal case management database application",
+    version="1.0.0",
+    lifespan=lifespan
+)
+
+
+@app.get("/")
+async def root():
+    """
+    Root endpoint - health check.
+    """
+    return {"message": "Delphi Database API is running"}
+
+
+@app.get("/health")
+async def health_check(db: Session = Depends(get_db)):
+    """
+    Health check endpoint that verifies database connectivity.
+    """
+    try:
+        # Test database connection by querying user count
+        user_count = db.query(User).count()
+        return {
+            "status": "healthy",
+            "database": "connected",
+            "users": user_count
+        }
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error(f"Health check failed: {e}")
+        return {
+            "status": "unhealthy",
+            "database": "error",
+            "error": str(e)
+        }
diff --git a/app/models.py b/app/models.py
index 9c65c6d..f4409cd 100644
--- a/app/models.py
+++ b/app/models.py
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-# SQLAlchemy models for the Delphi database
+"""
+SQLAlchemy models for the Delphi database.
+
+All models inherit from Base which is configured in the database module.
+"""
+
+from sqlalchemy import Column, Integer, String, DateTime, ForeignKey, Float, Text, Boolean
+from sqlalchemy.orm import relationship
+from sqlalchemy.sql import func
+from .database import Base
+
+
+class User(Base):
+    """
+    User model for authentication.
+
+    Stores user credentials and basic information for login functionality.
+    """
+    __tablename__ = "users"
+
+    id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True, index=True)
+    username = Column(String(50), unique=True, index=True, nullable=False)
+    password_hash = Column(String(255), nullable=False)
+    is_active = Column(Boolean, default=True)
+    created_at = Column(DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=func.now())
+    updated_at = Column(DateTime(timezone=True), onupdate=func.now())
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return f"<User(id={self.id}, username='{self.username}')>"
+
+
+class Client(Base):
+    """
+    Client model representing individuals or entities.
+
+    Core client information imported from ROLODEX data.
+    """
+    __tablename__ = "clients"
+
+    id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True, index=True)
+    rolodex_id = Column(String(20), unique=True, index=True)
+    last_name = Column(String(50))
+    first_name = Column(String(50))
+    middle_initial = Column(String(10))
+    company = Column(String(100))
+    address = Column(String(255))
+    city = Column(String(50))
+    state = Column(String(2))
+    zip_code = Column(String(10))
+    created_at = Column(DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=func.now())
+    updated_at = Column(DateTime(timezone=True), onupdate=func.now())
+
+    # Relationships
+    phones = relationship("Phone", back_populates="client")
+    cases = relationship("Case", back_populates="client")
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return f"<Client(id={self.id}, name='{self.first_name} {self.last_name}')>"
+
+
+class Phone(Base):
+    """
+    Phone number model linked to clients.
+
+    Stores phone number information for clients.
+    """
+    __tablename__ = "phones"
+
+    id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True, index=True)
+    client_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("clients.id"), nullable=False)
+    phone_type = Column(String(20))  # home, work, mobile, fax, etc.
+    phone_number = Column(String(20))
+    extension = Column(String(10))
+    created_at = Column(DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=func.now())
+
+    # Relationships
+    client = relationship("Client", back_populates="phones")
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return f"<Phone(id={self.id}, number='{self.phone_number}')>"
+
+
+class Case(Base):
+    """
+    Case model representing legal cases or files.
+
+    Main case information imported from FILES data.
+    """
+    __tablename__ = "cases"
+
+    id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True, index=True)
+    file_no = Column(String(20), unique=True, index=True, nullable=False)
+    client_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("clients.id"), nullable=False)
+    status = Column(String(20), default="active")
+    case_type = Column(String(50))
+    description = Column(Text)
+    open_date = Column(DateTime(timezone=True))
+    close_date = Column(DateTime(timezone=True))
+    created_at = Column(DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=func.now())
+    updated_at = Column(DateTime(timezone=True), onupdate=func.now())
+
+    # Relationships
+    client = relationship("Client", back_populates="cases")
+    transactions = relationship("Transaction", back_populates="case")
+    documents = relationship("Document", back_populates="case")
+    payments = relationship("Payment", back_populates="case")
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return f"<Case(id={self.id}, file_no='{self.file_no}')>"
+
+
+class Transaction(Base):
+    """
+    Transaction model for financial transactions.
+
+    Records financial activities related to cases.
+    """
+    __tablename__ = "transactions"
+
+    id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True, index=True)
+    case_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("cases.id"), nullable=False)
+    transaction_date = Column(DateTime(timezone=True))
+    transaction_type = Column(String(20))
+    amount = Column(Float)
+    description = Column(Text)
+    reference = Column(String(50))
+    created_at = Column(DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=func.now())
+
+    # Relationships
+    case = relationship("Case", back_populates="transactions")
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return f"<Transaction(id={self.id}, amount={self.amount})>"
+
+
+class Document(Base):
+    """
+    Document model for case-related documents.
+
+    Stores information about documents associated with cases.
+    """
+    __tablename__ = "documents"
+
+    id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True, index=True)
+    case_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("cases.id"), nullable=False)
+    document_type = Column(String(50))
+    file_name = Column(String(255))
+    file_path = Column(String(500))
+    description = Column(Text)
+    uploaded_date = Column(DateTime(timezone=True))
+    created_at = Column(DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=func.now())
+
+    # Relationships
+    case = relationship("Case", back_populates="documents")
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return f"<Document(id={self.id}, file_name='{self.file_name}')>"
+
+
+class Payment(Base):
+    """
+    Payment model for payment records.
+
+    Records payments made or received for cases.
+    """
+    __tablename__ = "payments"
+
+    id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True, index=True)
+    case_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("cases.id"), nullable=False)
+    payment_date = Column(DateTime(timezone=True))
+    payment_type = Column(String(20))
+    amount = Column(Float)
+    description = Column(Text)
+    check_number = Column(String(20))
+    created_at = Column(DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=func.now())
+
+    # Relationships
+    case = relationship("Case", back_populates="payments")
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return f"<Payment(id={self.id}, amount={self.amount})>"
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