Async
Session 1 checklist
Not everyone finishes every pre-course step before Session 1 - that is normal. Focus on the mandatory items first. The rest is good to have and we can help you finish during office hours or in the session itself.
Mandatory before Session 1
- GitHub account created at github.com
- Cursor or Claude Code installed, signed in, and opened on a project folder
- OpenAI API key created and saved in local `.env` as `OPENAI_API_KEY=...` (never paste the key in chat)
Good to have (fine if not done yet)
- Python 3.11+ and a virtual environment in your project folder
- FastAPI `/health` endpoint running locally
- Capstone one-liner or full seed doc
- Pre-session check-in posted in Maven or WhatsApp
- Building-in-public post shared with the cohort
- Git CLI installed on your machine
- Anthropic API key (needed before Session 3, not Session 1)
- Optional POST `/ask` smoke test working locally
Tip
If you are stuck
Paste the error into your coding agent first. If that does not fix it, post your blocker in Maven or WhatsApp before Friday - we troubleshoot in office hours so live session time stays for building.
Done when
- All three mandatory items are done
- You know which good-to-have items you still need help with
- Any blocker is posted before Session 1