Add a no-git 'Get the course materials' step to Module 1 (clone isn't taught until Module 8) #6

New Issue

2026-06-22T14:23:39-04:00

claude commented

2026-06-22 14:23:39 -04:00

Problem

Module 1's first lab step assumes the course files are already on disk ("copy the three files from modules/01-…/lab/starter/ into here"), but neither Module 1 nor the root README explains how to get the repo onto the machine. The obvious method, git clone, requires Git (Module 2) and isn't taught until Module 8. A browser-only learner reading the rendered README has no stated path to the files, blocking the orientation module's only setup step.

Evidence

modules/01-the-copy-paste-problem/README.md, Part A: "copy the three files from modules/01-the-copy-paste-problem/lab/starter/ into here" and "(Copy them however you like…)". The "You'll need" list names no course download.
README.md "Repo layout" shows the tree but never says how to download/clone (confirmed: no "clone"/"download"/"zip" anywhere in the root README).
Syllabus confirms Git arrives in Module 2 and remotes/clone in Module 8.

Why it matters

The very first hands-on step has no stated path to the materials, conflicting with the course's thoroughness ethos ("every command is shown and explained"). It is chain-safe to fix because a ZIP download is a one-time acquisition, not the Module 8 taught concept.

Proposed change

Add a "Get the course materials" step at the top of Module 1's lab (before Part A): download the course as a ZIP from <course host> and unzip to ~/workflow-course, with a one-line note that the cleaner git clone method arrives in Module 8.
Resolve <course host> to the actual host (mark Verify-before-publish).
Do NOT inline the three starter files into the README as the primary fix — that duplicates lab/starter/ and risks drift. The ZIP-download step is the better path.

Acceptance criteria

Module 1 states a non-git way to obtain the materials before the first copy step.
The method does not depend on any tool taught after Module 1; it forward-references Module 8 for clone.
<course host> is a real URL or clearly flagged Verify-before-publish.

Affected files

modules/01-the-copy-paste-problem/README.md

References

Source finding F5 (realVotes 3/3). Touches locked exemplar Module 1 — preserve voice. Confirm host with course owner.

Filed from an adversarial multi-agent course review (217 raw findings → 54 adversarially-verified survivors). Scoped for manual review; intentionally not auto-assigned to an agent.

## Problem Module 1's first lab step assumes the course files are already on disk ("copy the three files from `modules/01-…/lab/starter/` into here"), but neither Module 1 nor the root README explains how to get the repo onto the machine. The obvious method, `git clone`, requires Git (Module 2) and isn't taught until Module 8. A browser-only learner reading the rendered README has no stated path to the files, blocking the orientation module's only setup step. ## Evidence `modules/01-the-copy-paste-problem/README.md`, Part A: "copy the three files from `modules/01-the-copy-paste-problem/lab/starter/` into here" and "(Copy them however you like…)". The "You'll need" list names no course download. `README.md` "Repo layout" shows the tree but never says how to download/clone (confirmed: no "clone"/"download"/"zip" anywhere in the root README). Syllabus confirms Git arrives in Module 2 and remotes/clone in Module 8. ## Why it matters The very first hands-on step has no stated path to the materials, conflicting with the course's thoroughness ethos ("every command is shown and explained"). It is chain-safe to fix because a ZIP download is a one-time acquisition, not the Module 8 *taught* concept. ## Proposed change 1. Add a "Get the course materials" step at the top of Module 1's lab (before Part A): download the course as a ZIP from `<course host>` and unzip to `~/workflow-course`, with a one-line note that the cleaner `git clone` method arrives in Module 8. 2. Resolve `<course host>` to the actual host (mark Verify-before-publish). 3. Do NOT inline the three starter files into the README as the primary fix — that duplicates `lab/starter/` and risks drift. The ZIP-download step is the better path. ## Acceptance criteria - [ ] Module 1 states a non-`git` way to obtain the materials before the first copy step. - [ ] The method does not depend on any tool taught after Module 1; it forward-references Module 8 for clone. - [ ] `<course host>` is a real URL or clearly flagged Verify-before-publish. ## Affected files - `modules/01-the-copy-paste-problem/README.md` ## References Source finding F5 (realVotes 3/3). Touches locked exemplar Module 1 — preserve voice. Confirm host with course owner. --- *Filed from an adversarial multi-agent course review (217 raw findings → 54 adversarially-verified survivors). Scoped for manual review; intentionally not auto-assigned to an agent.*