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AI / Machine Learning

Phase 9: QA, Publishing & Capstone

10 Modules
Chapter 10: Prerequisites - Publishing & Deployment100%

Prerequisites - Publishing & Deployment

Required Knowledge

Git & GitHub (Essential)

  • Basic Git commands (clone, add, commit, push, pull)
  • Understanding of branches and pull requests
  • Experience with GitHub repositories
  • Completion of Phase 2 (Version Control & Collaboration) recommended

Web Development Fundamentals

  • Basic understanding of frontend frameworks (React, Vue, or similar)
  • Node.js and npm/yarn package management
  • RESTful API concepts
  • Environment variables and configuration

Command Line Basics

  • Navigating directories (cd, ls, pwd)
  • Running npm commands
  • Using package managers
  • Basic shell scripting knowledge (helpful but not required)

Required Setup

Essential Software

  1. Node.js 20+

    node --version  # Should be 20.0.0 or higher
npm --version   # Should be 9.0.0 or higher

    Install from: nodejs.org

  2. Git

    git --version  # Should be 2.30.0 or higher

    Install from: git-scm.com

  3. Code Editor

    • VS Code (recommended) with extensions:
      • YAML
      • GitHub Actions
      • Vercel
    • Or any text editor you're comfortable with

  4. GitHub CLI (Optional but Recommended)

    gh --version

    Install from: cli.github.com

Platform Accounts (All Free Tiers)

Create accounts on these platforms before the workshop:

  1. GitHub Account

    • Sign up: github.com
    • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
    • Have a test repository ready

  2. Vercel Account

  3. Railway Account

    • Sign up with GitHub: railway.app
    • $5 free trial credit provided

  4. Optional: Netlify

Recommended Preparation

Before the Workshop

  1. Review Git Basics (30 minutes)

    • Ensure you can create branches, commit, and push
    • Test SSH or HTTPS authentication with GitHub

  2. Have a Test Project Ready (15 minutes)

    • Simple React app (or create during workshop with Vite)
    • Basic Node.js Express API (or create during workshop)
    • Any project you want to deploy

  3. Install CLI Tools (15 minutes)

    # Vercel CLI
npm install -g vercel

# Railway CLI
npm install -g @railway/cli

# GitHub CLI (optional)
# See: https://cli.github.com/

  4. Test GitHub Authentication

    # SSH method
ssh -T git@github.com

# Or HTTPS method
git clone https://github.com/your-username/test-repo.git

Optional Preparation

  • Python 3.10+ (for MkDocs documentation)

    python3 --version
pip3 --version

  • Docker (for advanced deployment scenarios)

    docker --version

Technical Requirements

Hardware

  • CPU: Dual-core processor (2+ cores)
  • RAM: 8GB minimum, 16GB recommended
  • Storage: 10GB free space
  • Display: 1920x1080 or higher recommended

Software

  • Operating System: Windows 10+, macOS 10.15+, or Linux
  • Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge (latest version)
  • Terminal: Command Prompt, PowerShell, Terminal, or iTerm2

Network

  • Internet Connection: Stable broadband (10+ Mbps)
  • Firewall: Must allow HTTPS traffic (port 443)
  • Proxy: If behind corporate proxy, ensure CLI tools can access internet

Pre-Workshop Checklist

Complete this checklist 24 hours before the workshop:

Accounts & Authentication

  • GitHub account created and 2FA enabled
  • Vercel account created (signed up with GitHub)
  • Railway account created (signed up with GitHub)
  • Git authentication working (SSH or HTTPS)

Software Installation

  • Node.js 20+ installed and verified
  • npm or yarn package manager working
  • Git installed and configured
  • Code editor installed with recommended extensions

CLI Tools

  • Vercel CLI installed (vercel --version works)
  • Railway CLI installed (railway --version works)
  • GitHub CLI installed (optional)

Test Project

  • Have a simple React/Node.js project ready, or
  • Ready to create new project during workshop

Knowledge Review

  • Can create Git branches and commits
  • Understand what a pull request is
  • Know how to push code to GitHub
  • Familiar with npm/yarn commands

Troubleshooting Common Setup Issues

Node.js Installation Issues

Problem: node: command not found

Solution:

  1. Download installer from nodejs.org
  2. Restart terminal after installation
  3. Verify PATH includes Node.js

Git Authentication Issues

Problem: Permission denied (publickey)

Solution:

  1. Generate SSH key: ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"
  2. Add to SSH agent: ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
  3. Add public key to GitHub: Settings → SSH and GPG keys

Alternative: Use HTTPS with Personal Access Token (PAT)

Vercel CLI Login Issues

Problem: Can't authenticate Vercel CLI

Solution:

# Login via browser
vercel login

# Or use token
vercel login --token YOUR_TOKEN

Railway CLI Issues

Problem: railway: command not found

Solution:

# Reinstall globally
npm install -g @railway/cli

# Or use npx
npx @railway/cli login

Getting Help

If you encounter setup issues:

  1. Check Documentation

  2. Workshop Discord Channel

    • Ask questions in #phase-9-help
    • Share error messages and screenshots

  3. Office Hours

    • Schedule 15-minute session before workshop
    • Available Monday-Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM

  4. Day-Of Support

    • Arrive 15 minutes early for setup help
    • Teaching assistants available

What You'll Install During Workshop

These will be installed together during hands-on exercises:

  • MkDocs Material (Python package for documentation)
  • Specific project dependencies (Vite, Express, etc.)
  • GitHub Actions workflows (created in repository)

No need to install these beforehand!

Ready to Deploy?

Once you've completed the pre-workshop checklist, you're ready for the afternoon session. We'll take you from zero to production deployment in 3 hours!

See you at the workshop! 🚀