.htaccess PHP - Prevent rewriting when only domain is entered - php

Question

I have a site located at
application
controllers
views
...
public <- the root of the site
index.php <- entry point
css
...
So the url is http://localhost/application/public. I would like when the user enters only http://localhost/application/public to do nothing except calling index.php without showing it.
Here are some examples:
http://localhost/application/public -> http://localhost/application/public or http://localhost/application/public/
BUT
http://localhost/application/public/asdf -> Rewrite internally to http://localhost/application/public/index.php and show only http://localhost/application/public/asdf
I have written the .htaccess. The only problem is that when entering http://localhost/application/public it opens http://localhost/application/public/index.php instead of http://localhost/application/public
One more thing - I want existing directories to be rewritten, so only existing files should not be rewritten to index.php So basically http://localhost/application/public/css should be rewritten to index.php. The reason I want this is to ommit the 403 Forbidden error, and kindly tell the user that the path does not exist.
HTACCESS
Options +FollowSymLinks -MultiViews -Indexes
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /application/public/
#Remove trailing slash
RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} \s(.+?)/+[?\s]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.+?)/$ $1 [R=301,L]
#Do the rewriting
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php/$1 [NC,L]
The reason I put RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d is to prevent http://localhost/application/public from rewriting. If http://localhost/application/public is rewritten, it loads http://localhost/application/public/index.php
Actually I know there are needed some modifications on RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d. I want the root, public folder to not get rewritten, it should be the only exception. All of the rest physical folders like css, js, have to be rewritten, like not existing. Files should not be rewritten. Thanks!

Answer 1

Ok, I think I found a solution.
Options +FollowSymLinks -MultiViews -Indexes
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /application/public/
RewriteRule ^(css/?|js/?)$ index.php [NC,L] <- Folders css, js will be rewritten, but root directory won't be rewritten. Files inside them also won't be rewritten.
#Remove trailing slash
RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} \s(.+?)/+[?\s]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.+?)/$ $1 [R=301,L]
#Do the rewriting
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.php/$1 [NC,L]