Capstone Preparation: Write a README and Run Instructions is part of Capstone project development. This lesson focuses on the exact problem it solves, the behavior you can observe, and the limits to understand before applying it in your own project.
A README should allow a new contributor to install dependencies, run the app, execute tests and understand configuration without private assistance.
What You Will Learn
- Identify the purpose of Capstone Preparation: Write a README and Run Instructions and when it is useful.
- Understand the worked example and what happens to each input.
- Recognize the relevant compatibility, safety or correctness limitation.
- Apply the technique to a small exercise and verify the result.
Before You Start
This project starts with a small local prototype. Third-party services, browsers, real production credentials, and external networks are not required to study the starter example. Install extra packages only when the later project stages need them.
How It Works
A README should allow a new contributor to install dependencies, run the app, execute tests and understand configuration without private assistance.
Focus on the public contract first: what goes in, what comes out, what may fail, and which state changes. Internal implementation details are useful only when they explain a measured behavior or guide a safe design decision.
Step-by-Step Example
The following self-contained example is intentionally small enough to read line by line. Comments containing another programming language or a terminal command are illustrative and must not be executed as Python source.
README = '# Example project\n\nRun: python -m example_project\nTest: python -m unittest discover\n'
print(README.splitlines()[0])Understanding the Example
- The example prepares its own values or collaborators before calling the main operation. Change only one input at a time to see the effect.
- The print call exposes the result or a specific property of the operation. Compare it with your prediction rather than memorizing the line.
- The important rule is: A README should allow a new contributor to install dependencies, run the app, execute tests and understand configuration without private assistance.
Expected behavior: A README should allow a new contributor to install dependencies, run the app, execute tests and understand configuration without private assistance. Exact timing values, platform paths, interpreter internals and native library availability may differ between machines.
Practical Use and Design Choices
Treat the example as the smallest working vertical slice. Decide the acceptance criteria, data model, tests and error handling before adding persistence, a user interface or a network service.
Build one feature at a time, test both success and failure cases, and write reproducible run instructions. A prototype is not a replacement for production security, backups or operational safeguards.
A Second Scenario to Consider
Imagine using the same technique with an unavailable feature, an unexpected input or a larger workload. Before editing the code, identify which assumption of the first example no longer holds. Decide whether to reject the input, choose a safe fallback or change the design.
For this specific lesson: Use a clean virtual environment to validate every setup instruction.
Important Limitations
Do not publish local machine paths or private credentials.
Environment requirement: Python and project-specific tools. Keep compatibility checks and platform restrictions visible to users before they copy the code.
Practice Exercise
- Use a clean virtual environment to validate every setup instruction.
- Write down the expected result before running a changed case.
- Add a test for one normal case and one invalid or boundary case. Record the observed result and explain any difference.
Build the Complete Project
- Define a minimal working scope for Capstone Preparation: Write a README and Run Instructions. Write acceptance tests before adding advanced features.
- Model the core data and keep validation and business logic independent from user interface or storage.
- Implement durable storage or external interfaces only after the local core passes tests.
- Add failure handling, logging, configuration, packaging, documentation and a restore or rollback procedure.
- Run acceptance tests in a clean environment and document known limitations.
Acceptance Tests
- A valid input produces the correct observable result.
- An invalid or missing input produces a clear error without damaging state.
- Restarting or retrying the program does not silently duplicate or corrupt important data.
- Another learner can follow the README to reproduce the run and tests.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Calling a small demonstration a production-ready application without tests, recovery and security review.
- Do not publish local machine paths or private credentials.
- Applying Capstone Preparation: Write a README and Run Instructions without checking input types, resource ownership, side effects or version support.
Key Takeaways
- A README should allow a new contributor to install dependencies, run the app, execute tests and understand configuration without private assistance.
- The worked example demonstrates the central behavior of Capstone Preparation: Write a README and Run Instructions using visible results and bounded input.
- A useful next step is: Use a clean virtual environment to validate every setup instruction.