diff --git a/cogs/starboard_cog.py b/cogs/starboard_cog.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fffdba8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cogs/starboard_cog.py
@@ -0,0 +1,373 @@
+import discord
+from discord.ext import commands
+from discord import app_commands
+import asyncio
+import re
+import datetime
+from typing import Optional, Union, Dict, List, Tuple
+import logging
+import sys
+import os
+
+# Add the parent directory to sys.path to allow imports
+sys.path.append(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
+
+# Import settings manager for database operations
+import discordbot.settings_manager as settings_manager
+
+# Set up logging
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+class StarboardCog(commands.Cog):
+    """A cog that implements a starboard feature for highlighting popular messages."""
+
+    def __init__(self, bot):
+        self.bot = bot
+        self.emoji_pattern = re.compile(r'<a?:.+?:\d+>|[\U00010000-\U0010ffff]')
+        self.pending_updates = {}  # Store message IDs that are being processed to prevent race conditions
+
+    @commands.Cog.listener()
+    async def on_raw_reaction_add(self, payload):
+        """Event listener for when a reaction is added to a message."""
+        # Skip if the reaction is from a bot
+        if payload.member.bot:
+            return
+
+        # Get guild and check if it exists
+        guild = self.bot.get_guild(payload.guild_id)
+        if not guild:
+            return
+
+        # Get starboard settings for this guild
+        settings = await settings_manager.get_starboard_settings(guild.id)
+        if not settings or not settings.get('enabled') or not settings.get('starboard_channel_id'):
+            return
+
+        # Check if the emoji matches the configured star emoji
+        emoji_str = str(payload.emoji)
+        if emoji_str != settings.get('star_emoji', '⭐'):
+            return
+
+        # Process the star reaction
+        await self._process_star_reaction(payload, settings, is_add=True)
+
+    @commands.Cog.listener()
+    async def on_raw_reaction_remove(self, payload):
+        """Event listener for when a reaction is removed from a message."""
+        # Get guild and check if it exists
+        guild = self.bot.get_guild(payload.guild_id)
+        if not guild:
+            return
+
+        # Get user who removed the reaction
+        user = await self.bot.fetch_user(payload.user_id)
+        if not user or user.bot:
+            return
+
+        # Get starboard settings for this guild
+        settings = await settings_manager.get_starboard_settings(guild.id)
+        if not settings or not settings.get('enabled') or not settings.get('starboard_channel_id'):
+            return
+
+        # Check if the emoji matches the configured star emoji
+        emoji_str = str(payload.emoji)
+        if emoji_str != settings.get('star_emoji', '⭐'):
+            return
+
+        # Process the star reaction removal
+        await self._process_star_reaction(payload, settings, is_add=False)
+
+    async def _process_star_reaction(self, payload, settings, is_add: bool):
+        """Process a star reaction being added or removed."""
+        # Get the channels
+        guild = self.bot.get_guild(payload.guild_id)
+        source_channel = guild.get_channel(payload.channel_id)
+        starboard_channel = guild.get_channel(settings.get('starboard_channel_id'))
+
+        if not source_channel or not starboard_channel:
+            return
+
+        # Check if the source channel is the starboard channel (prevent stars on starboard posts)
+        if source_channel.id == starboard_channel.id:
+            return
+
+        # Acquire lock for this message to prevent race conditions
+        message_key = f"{payload.guild_id}:{payload.message_id}"
+        if message_key in self.pending_updates:
+            return
+
+        self.pending_updates[message_key] = True
+        try:
+            # Get the message
+            try:
+                message = await source_channel.fetch_message(payload.message_id)
+            except discord.NotFound:
+                return
+            except discord.HTTPException as e:
+                log.error(f"Error fetching message {payload.message_id}: {e}")
+                return
+
+            # Check if message is from a bot and if we should ignore bot messages
+            if message.author.bot and settings.get('ignore_bots', True):
+                return
+
+            # Check if the user is starring their own message and if that's allowed
+            if is_add and payload.user_id == message.author.id and not settings.get('self_star', False):
+                return
+
+            # Update the reaction in the database
+            if is_add:
+                star_count = await settings_manager.add_starboard_reaction(
+                    guild.id, message.id, payload.user_id
+                )
+            else:
+                star_count = await settings_manager.remove_starboard_reaction(
+                    guild.id, message.id, payload.user_id
+                )
+
+            # If we couldn't get a valid count, fetch it directly
+            if not isinstance(star_count, int):
+                star_count = await settings_manager.get_starboard_reaction_count(guild.id, message.id)
+
+            # Get the threshold from settings
+            threshold = settings.get('threshold', 3)
+
+            # Check if this message is already in the starboard
+            entry = await settings_manager.get_starboard_entry(guild.id, message.id)
+
+            if star_count >= threshold:
+                # Message should be in starboard
+                if entry:
+                    # Update existing entry
+                    try:
+                        starboard_message = await starboard_channel.fetch_message(entry.get('starboard_message_id'))
+                        await self._update_starboard_message(starboard_message, message, star_count)
+                        await settings_manager.update_starboard_entry(guild.id, message.id, star_count)
+                    except discord.NotFound:
+                        # Starboard message was deleted, create a new one
+                        starboard_message = await self._create_starboard_message(starboard_channel, message, star_count)
+                        if starboard_message:
+                            await settings_manager.create_starboard_entry(
+                                guild.id, message.id, source_channel.id,
+                                starboard_message.id, message.author.id, star_count
+                            )
+                    except discord.HTTPException as e:
+                        log.error(f"Error updating starboard message: {e}")
+                else:
+                    # Create new entry
+                    starboard_message = await self._create_starboard_message(starboard_channel, message, star_count)
+                    if starboard_message:
+                        await settings_manager.create_starboard_entry(
+                            guild.id, message.id, source_channel.id,
+                            starboard_message.id, message.author.id, star_count
+                        )
+            elif entry:
+                # Message is below threshold but exists in starboard
+                try:
+                    # Delete the starboard message if it exists
+                    starboard_message = await starboard_channel.fetch_message(entry.get('starboard_message_id'))
+                    await starboard_message.delete()
+                except (discord.NotFound, discord.HTTPException):
+                    pass  # Message already deleted or couldn't be deleted
+
+                # Delete the entry from the database
+                # Note: We don't have a dedicated function for this yet, but we could add one
+                # For now, we'll just update the star count
+                await settings_manager.update_starboard_entry(guild.id, message.id, star_count)
+        finally:
+            # Release the lock
+            self.pending_updates.pop(message_key, None)
+
+    async def _create_starboard_message(self, starboard_channel, message, star_count):
+        """Create a new message in the starboard channel."""
+        try:
+            embed = self._create_starboard_embed(message, star_count)
+
+            # Add jump link to the original message
+            content = f"{self._get_star_emoji(star_count)} **{star_count}** | {message.channel.mention} | [Jump to Message]({message.jump_url})"
+
+            # Send the message to the starboard channel
+            return await starboard_channel.send(content=content, embed=embed)
+        except discord.HTTPException as e:
+            log.error(f"Error creating starboard message: {e}")
+            return None
+
+    async def _update_starboard_message(self, starboard_message, original_message, star_count):
+        """Update an existing message in the starboard channel."""
+        try:
+            embed = self._create_starboard_embed(original_message, star_count)
+
+            # Update the star count in the message content
+            content = f"{self._get_star_emoji(star_count)} **{star_count}** | {original_message.channel.mention} | [Jump to Message]({original_message.jump_url})"
+
+            # Edit the message
+            await starboard_message.edit(content=content, embed=embed)
+            return starboard_message
+        except discord.HTTPException as e:
+            log.error(f"Error updating starboard message: {e}")
+            return None
+
+    def _create_starboard_embed(self, message, star_count):
+        """Create an embed for the starboard message."""
+        embed = discord.Embed(
+            description=message.content,
+            color=0xFFAC33,  # Gold color for stars
+            timestamp=message.created_at
+        )
+
+        # Set author information
+        embed.set_author(
+            name=message.author.display_name,
+            icon_url=message.author.display_avatar.url
+        )
+
+        # Add footer with message ID for reference
+        embed.set_footer(text=f"ID: {message.id}")
+
+        # Add attachments if any
+        if message.attachments:
+            # If it's an image, add it to the embed
+            for attachment in message.attachments:
+                if attachment.content_type and attachment.content_type.startswith('image/'):
+                    embed.set_image(url=attachment.url)
+                    break
+
+            # Add a field listing all attachments
+            if len(message.attachments) > 1:
+                attachment_list = "\n".join([f"[{a.filename}]({a.url})" for a in message.attachments])
+                embed.add_field(name="Attachments", value=attachment_list, inline=False)
+
+        return embed
+
+    def _get_star_emoji(self, count):
+        """Get the appropriate star emoji based on the count."""
+        if count >= 15:
+            return "🌟"  # Glowing star for 15+
+        elif count >= 10:
+            return "✨"  # Sparkles for 10+
+        elif count >= 5:
+            return "⭐"  # Star for 5+
+        else:
+            return "⭐"  # Regular star for < 5
+
+    # --- Starboard Commands ---
+
+    @commands.hybrid_group(name="starboard", description="Manage the starboard settings")
+    @commands.has_permissions(manage_guild=True)
+    @app_commands.default_permissions(manage_guild=True)
+    async def starboard_group(self, ctx):
+        """Commands for managing the starboard feature."""
+        if ctx.invoked_subcommand is None:
+            await ctx.send("Please specify a subcommand. Use `help starboard` for more information.")
+
+    @starboard_group.command(name="enable", description="Enable or disable the starboard")
+    @app_commands.describe(enabled="Whether to enable or disable the starboard")
+    async def starboard_enable(self, ctx, enabled: bool):
+        """Enable or disable the starboard feature."""
+        success = await settings_manager.update_starboard_settings(ctx.guild.id, enabled=enabled)
+
+        if success:
+            status = "enabled" if enabled else "disabled"
+            await ctx.send(f"✅ Starboard has been {status}.")
+        else:
+            await ctx.send("❌ Failed to update starboard settings.")
+
+    @starboard_group.command(name="channel", description="Set the channel for starboard posts")
+    @app_commands.describe(channel="The channel to use for starboard posts")
+    async def starboard_channel(self, ctx, channel: discord.TextChannel):
+        """Set the channel where starboard messages will be posted."""
+        success = await settings_manager.update_starboard_settings(ctx.guild.id, starboard_channel_id=channel.id)
+
+        if success:
+            await ctx.send(f"✅ Starboard channel set to {channel.mention}.")
+        else:
+            await ctx.send("❌ Failed to update starboard channel.")
+
+    @starboard_group.command(name="threshold", description="Set the minimum number of stars needed")
+    @app_commands.describe(threshold="The minimum number of stars needed (1-25)")
+    async def starboard_threshold(self, ctx, threshold: int):
+        """Set the minimum number of stars needed for a message to appear on the starboard."""
+        if threshold < 1 or threshold > 25:
+            await ctx.send("❌ Threshold must be between 1 and 25.")
+            return
+
+        success = await settings_manager.update_starboard_settings(ctx.guild.id, threshold=threshold)
+
+        if success:
+            await ctx.send(f"✅ Starboard threshold set to {threshold} stars.")
+        else:
+            await ctx.send("❌ Failed to update starboard threshold.")
+
+    @starboard_group.command(name="emoji", description="Set the emoji used for starring messages")
+    @app_commands.describe(emoji="The emoji to use for starring messages")
+    async def starboard_emoji(self, ctx, emoji: str):
+        """Set the emoji that will be used for starring messages."""
+        # Validate that the input is a single emoji
+        if not self.emoji_pattern.fullmatch(emoji):
+            await ctx.send("❌ Please provide a valid emoji.")
+            return
+
+        success = await settings_manager.update_starboard_settings(ctx.guild.id, star_emoji=emoji)
+
+        if success:
+            await ctx.send(f"✅ Starboard emoji set to {emoji}.")
+        else:
+            await ctx.send("❌ Failed to update starboard emoji.")
+
+    @starboard_group.command(name="ignorebots", description="Set whether to ignore bot messages")
+    @app_commands.describe(ignore="Whether to ignore messages from bots")
+    async def starboard_ignorebots(self, ctx, ignore: bool):
+        """Set whether messages from bots should be ignored for the starboard."""
+        success = await settings_manager.update_starboard_settings(ctx.guild.id, ignore_bots=ignore)
+
+        if success:
+            status = "will be ignored" if ignore else "will be included"
+            await ctx.send(f"✅ Bot messages {status} in the starboard.")
+        else:
+            await ctx.send("❌ Failed to update bot message handling.")
+
+    @starboard_group.command(name="selfstar", description="Allow or disallow users to star their own messages")
+    @app_commands.describe(allow="Whether to allow users to star their own messages")
+    async def starboard_selfstar(self, ctx, allow: bool):
+        """Set whether users can star their own messages."""
+        success = await settings_manager.update_starboard_settings(ctx.guild.id, self_star=allow)
+
+        if success:
+            status = "can" if allow else "cannot"
+            await ctx.send(f"✅ Users {status} star their own messages.")
+        else:
+            await ctx.send("❌ Failed to update self-starring setting.")
+
+    @starboard_group.command(name="settings", description="Show current starboard settings")
+    async def starboard_settings(self, ctx):
+        """Display the current starboard settings."""
+        settings = await settings_manager.get_starboard_settings(ctx.guild.id)
+
+        if not settings:
+            await ctx.send("❌ Failed to retrieve starboard settings.")
+            return
+
+        # Create an embed to display the settings
+        embed = discord.Embed(
+            title="Starboard Settings",
+            color=discord.Color.gold(),
+            timestamp=datetime.datetime.now()
+        )
+
+        # Add fields for each setting
+        embed.add_field(name="Status", value="Enabled" if settings.get('enabled') else "Disabled", inline=True)
+
+        channel_id = settings.get('starboard_channel_id')
+        channel_mention = f"<#{channel_id}>" if channel_id else "Not set"
+        embed.add_field(name="Channel", value=channel_mention, inline=True)
+
+        embed.add_field(name="Threshold", value=str(settings.get('threshold', 3)), inline=True)
+        embed.add_field(name="Emoji", value=settings.get('star_emoji', '⭐'), inline=True)
+        embed.add_field(name="Ignore Bots", value="Yes" if settings.get('ignore_bots', True) else "No", inline=True)
+        embed.add_field(name="Self-starring", value="Allowed" if settings.get('self_star', False) else "Not allowed", inline=True)
+
+        await ctx.send(embed=embed)
+
+async def setup(bot):
+    """Add the cog to the bot."""
+    await bot.add_cog(StarboardCog(bot))
diff --git a/settings_manager.py b/settings_manager.py
index 8f491cf..be4a9b0 100644
--- a/settings_manager.py
+++ b/settings_manager.py
@@ -247,6 +247,47 @@ async def initialize_database():
                 );
             """)
 
+            # Starboard Settings table - Stores configuration for the starboard feature
+            await conn.execute("""
+                CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS starboard_settings (
+                    guild_id BIGINT PRIMARY KEY,
+                    enabled BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT TRUE,
+                    star_emoji TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '⭐',
+                    threshold INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 3,
+                    starboard_channel_id BIGINT,
+                    ignore_bots BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT TRUE,
+                    self_star BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT FALSE,
+                    FOREIGN KEY (guild_id) REFERENCES guilds(guild_id) ON DELETE CASCADE
+                );
+            """)
+
+            # Starboard Entries table - Tracks which messages have been reposted to the starboard
+            await conn.execute("""
+                CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS starboard_entries (
+                    id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
+                    guild_id BIGINT NOT NULL,
+                    original_message_id BIGINT NOT NULL,
+                    original_channel_id BIGINT NOT NULL,
+                    starboard_message_id BIGINT NOT NULL,
+                    author_id BIGINT NOT NULL,
+                    star_count INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+                    created_at TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE NOT NULL DEFAULT NOW(),
+                    UNIQUE(guild_id, original_message_id),
+                    FOREIGN KEY (guild_id) REFERENCES guilds(guild_id) ON DELETE CASCADE
+                );
+            """)
+
+            # Starboard Reactions table - Tracks which users have starred which messages
+            await conn.execute("""
+                CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS starboard_reactions (
+                    guild_id BIGINT NOT NULL,
+                    message_id BIGINT NOT NULL,
+                    user_id BIGINT NOT NULL,
+                    PRIMARY KEY (guild_id, message_id, user_id),
+                    FOREIGN KEY (guild_id) REFERENCES guilds(guild_id) ON DELETE CASCADE
+                );
+            """)
+
             # Consider adding indexes later for performance on large tables
             # await conn.execute("CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_guild_settings_guild ON guild_settings (guild_id);")
             # await conn.execute("CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_enabled_cogs_guild ON enabled_cogs (guild_id);")
@@ -254,10 +295,287 @@ async def initialize_database():
             # await conn.execute("CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_command_customization_guild ON command_customization (guild_id);")
             # await conn.execute("CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_command_group_customization_guild ON command_group_customization (guild_id);")
             # await conn.execute("CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_command_aliases_guild ON command_aliases (guild_id);")
+            # await conn.execute("CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_starboard_entries_guild ON starboard_entries (guild_id);")
+            # await conn.execute("CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_starboard_reactions_guild ON starboard_reactions (guild_id);")
 
     log.info("Database schema initialization complete.")
 
 
+# --- Starboard Functions ---
+
+async def get_starboard_settings(guild_id: int):
+    """Gets the starboard settings for a guild."""
+    if not pg_pool:
+        log.warning(f"PostgreSQL pool not initialized, returning None for starboard settings.")
+        return None
+
+    try:
+        async with pg_pool.acquire() as conn:
+            # Check if the guild exists in the starboard_settings table
+            settings = await conn.fetchrow(
+                """
+                SELECT * FROM starboard_settings WHERE guild_id = $1
+                """,
+                guild_id
+            )
+
+            if settings:
+                return dict(settings)
+
+            # If no settings exist, insert default settings
+            await conn.execute(
+                """
+                INSERT INTO starboard_settings (guild_id)
+                VALUES ($1)
+                ON CONFLICT (guild_id) DO NOTHING;
+                """,
+                guild_id
+            )
+
+            # Fetch the newly inserted default settings
+            settings = await conn.fetchrow(
+                """
+                SELECT * FROM starboard_settings WHERE guild_id = $1
+                """,
+                guild_id
+            )
+
+            return dict(settings) if settings else None
+    except Exception as e:
+        log.exception(f"Database error getting starboard settings for guild {guild_id}: {e}")
+        return None
+
+async def update_starboard_settings(guild_id: int, **kwargs):
+    """Updates starboard settings for a guild.
+
+    Args:
+        guild_id: The ID of the guild to update settings for
+        **kwargs: Key-value pairs of settings to update
+            Possible keys: enabled, star_emoji, threshold, starboard_channel_id, ignore_bots, self_star
+
+    Returns:
+        bool: True if successful, False otherwise
+    """
+    if not pg_pool:
+        log.error(f"PostgreSQL pool not initialized, cannot update starboard settings.")
+        return False
+
+    valid_keys = {'enabled', 'star_emoji', 'threshold', 'starboard_channel_id', 'ignore_bots', 'self_star'}
+    update_dict = {k: v for k, v in kwargs.items() if k in valid_keys}
+
+    if not update_dict:
+        log.warning(f"No valid settings provided for starboard update for guild {guild_id}")
+        return False
+
+    try:
+        async with pg_pool.acquire() as conn:
+            # Ensure guild exists
+            await conn.execute("INSERT INTO guilds (guild_id) VALUES ($1) ON CONFLICT (guild_id) DO NOTHING;", guild_id)
+
+            # Build the SET clause for the UPDATE statement
+            set_clause = ", ".join(f"{key} = ${i+2}" for i, key in enumerate(update_dict.keys()))
+            values = [guild_id] + list(update_dict.values())
+
+            # Update the settings
+            await conn.execute(
+                f"""
+                INSERT INTO starboard_settings (guild_id)
+                VALUES ($1)
+                ON CONFLICT (guild_id) DO UPDATE SET {set_clause};
+                """,
+                *values
+            )
+
+            log.info(f"Updated starboard settings for guild {guild_id}: {update_dict}")
+            return True
+    except Exception as e:
+        log.exception(f"Database error updating starboard settings for guild {guild_id}: {e}")
+        return False
+
+async def get_starboard_entry(guild_id: int, original_message_id: int):
+    """Gets a starboard entry for a specific message."""
+    if not pg_pool:
+        log.warning(f"PostgreSQL pool not initialized, returning None for starboard entry.")
+        return None
+
+    try:
+        async with pg_pool.acquire() as conn:
+            entry = await conn.fetchrow(
+                """
+                SELECT * FROM starboard_entries
+                WHERE guild_id = $1 AND original_message_id = $2
+                """,
+                guild_id, original_message_id
+            )
+
+            return dict(entry) if entry else None
+    except Exception as e:
+        log.exception(f"Database error getting starboard entry for message {original_message_id} in guild {guild_id}: {e}")
+        return None
+
+async def create_starboard_entry(guild_id: int, original_message_id: int, original_channel_id: int,
+                                starboard_message_id: int, author_id: int, star_count: int = 1):
+    """Creates a new starboard entry."""
+    if not pg_pool:
+        log.error(f"PostgreSQL pool not initialized, cannot create starboard entry.")
+        return False
+
+    try:
+        async with pg_pool.acquire() as conn:
+            # Ensure guild exists
+            await conn.execute("INSERT INTO guilds (guild_id) VALUES ($1) ON CONFLICT (guild_id) DO NOTHING;", guild_id)
+
+            # Create the entry
+            await conn.execute(
+                """
+                INSERT INTO starboard_entries
+                (guild_id, original_message_id, original_channel_id, starboard_message_id, author_id, star_count)
+                VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6)
+                ON CONFLICT (guild_id, original_message_id) DO NOTHING;
+                """,
+                guild_id, original_message_id, original_channel_id, starboard_message_id, author_id, star_count
+            )
+
+            log.info(f"Created starboard entry for message {original_message_id} in guild {guild_id}")
+            return True
+    except Exception as e:
+        log.exception(f"Database error creating starboard entry for message {original_message_id} in guild {guild_id}: {e}")
+        return False
+
+async def update_starboard_entry(guild_id: int, original_message_id: int, star_count: int):
+    """Updates the star count for an existing starboard entry."""
+    if not pg_pool:
+        log.error(f"PostgreSQL pool not initialized, cannot update starboard entry.")
+        return False
+
+    try:
+        async with pg_pool.acquire() as conn:
+            await conn.execute(
+                """
+                UPDATE starboard_entries
+                SET star_count = $3
+                WHERE guild_id = $1 AND original_message_id = $2
+                """,
+                guild_id, original_message_id, star_count
+            )
+
+            log.info(f"Updated star count to {star_count} for message {original_message_id} in guild {guild_id}")
+            return True
+    except Exception as e:
+        log.exception(f"Database error updating starboard entry for message {original_message_id} in guild {guild_id}: {e}")
+        return False
+
+async def add_starboard_reaction(guild_id: int, message_id: int, user_id: int):
+    """Records a user's star reaction to a message."""
+    if not pg_pool:
+        log.error(f"PostgreSQL pool not initialized, cannot add starboard reaction.")
+        return False
+
+    try:
+        async with pg_pool.acquire() as conn:
+            # Ensure guild exists
+            await conn.execute("INSERT INTO guilds (guild_id) VALUES ($1) ON CONFLICT (guild_id) DO NOTHING;", guild_id)
+
+            # Add the reaction record
+            await conn.execute(
+                """
+                INSERT INTO starboard_reactions (guild_id, message_id, user_id)
+                VALUES ($1, $2, $3)
+                ON CONFLICT (guild_id, message_id, user_id) DO NOTHING;
+                """,
+                guild_id, message_id, user_id
+            )
+
+            # Count total reactions for this message
+            count = await conn.fetchval(
+                """
+                SELECT COUNT(*) FROM starboard_reactions
+                WHERE guild_id = $1 AND message_id = $2
+                """,
+                guild_id, message_id
+            )
+
+            return count
+    except Exception as e:
+        log.exception(f"Database error adding starboard reaction for message {message_id} in guild {guild_id}: {e}")
+        return False
+
+async def remove_starboard_reaction(guild_id: int, message_id: int, user_id: int):
+    """Removes a user's star reaction from a message."""
+    if not pg_pool:
+        log.error(f"PostgreSQL pool not initialized, cannot remove starboard reaction.")
+        return False
+
+    try:
+        async with pg_pool.acquire() as conn:
+            # Remove the reaction record
+            await conn.execute(
+                """
+                DELETE FROM starboard_reactions
+                WHERE guild_id = $1 AND message_id = $2 AND user_id = $3
+                """,
+                guild_id, message_id, user_id
+            )
+
+            # Count remaining reactions for this message
+            count = await conn.fetchval(
+                """
+                SELECT COUNT(*) FROM starboard_reactions
+                WHERE guild_id = $1 AND message_id = $2
+                """,
+                guild_id, message_id
+            )
+
+            return count
+    except Exception as e:
+        log.exception(f"Database error removing starboard reaction for message {message_id} in guild {guild_id}: {e}")
+        return False
+
+async def get_starboard_reaction_count(guild_id: int, message_id: int):
+    """Gets the count of star reactions for a message."""
+    if not pg_pool:
+        log.warning(f"PostgreSQL pool not initialized, returning 0 for starboard reaction count.")
+        return 0
+
+    try:
+        async with pg_pool.acquire() as conn:
+            count = await conn.fetchval(
+                """
+                SELECT COUNT(*) FROM starboard_reactions
+                WHERE guild_id = $1 AND message_id = $2
+                """,
+                guild_id, message_id
+            )
+
+            return count
+    except Exception as e:
+        log.exception(f"Database error getting starboard reaction count for message {message_id} in guild {guild_id}: {e}")
+        return 0
+
+async def has_user_reacted(guild_id: int, message_id: int, user_id: int):
+    """Checks if a user has already reacted to a message."""
+    if not pg_pool:
+        log.warning(f"PostgreSQL pool not initialized, returning False for user reaction check.")
+        return False
+
+    try:
+        async with pg_pool.acquire() as conn:
+            result = await conn.fetchval(
+                """
+                SELECT EXISTS(
+                    SELECT 1 FROM starboard_reactions
+                    WHERE guild_id = $1 AND message_id = $2 AND user_id = $3
+                )
+                """,
+                guild_id, message_id, user_id
+            )
+
+            return result
+    except Exception as e:
+        log.exception(f"Database error checking if user {user_id} reacted to message {message_id} in guild {guild_id}: {e}")
+        return False
+
+
 # --- Helper Functions ---
 def _get_redis_key(guild_id: int, key_type: str, identifier: str = None) -> str:
     """Generates a standardized Redis key."""
diff --git a/test_starboard.py b/test_starboard.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1e3cc6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_starboard.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import asyncio
+import discord
+from discord.ext import commands
+import os
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+import logging
+import sys
+
+# Add the parent directory to sys.path to allow imports
+sys.path.append(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
+
+# Import the starboard cog and settings manager
+from discordbot.cogs.starboard_cog import StarboardCog
+import discordbot.settings_manager as settings_manager
+
+# Load environment variables
+load_dotenv()
+
+# Configure logging
+logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO, format='%(asctime)s:%(levelname)s:%(name)s: %(message)s')
+log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+# Set up intents
+intents = discord.Intents.default()
+intents.message_content = True
+intents.members = True
+
+# Create bot instance
+bot = commands.Bot(command_prefix="!", intents=intents)
+
+@bot.event
+async def on_ready():
+    log.info(f'{bot.user.name} has connected to Discord!')
+    log.info(f'Bot ID: {bot.user.id}')
+
+    # Load the starboard cog
+    try:
+        await bot.add_cog(StarboardCog(bot))
+        log.info("StarboardCog loaded successfully!")
+    except Exception as e:
+        log.error(f"Error loading StarboardCog: {e}")
+
+async def main():
+    TOKEN = os.getenv('DISCORD_TOKEN')
+    if not TOKEN:
+        raise ValueError("No token found. Make sure to set DISCORD_TOKEN in your .env file.")
+
+    try:
+        await bot.start(TOKEN)
+    except Exception as e:
+        log.exception(f"Error starting bot: {e}")
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    asyncio.run(main())