Environment and dependencies setup

A correct environment ensures the project runs and can be demonstrated or submitted without errors.

1. Runtime: Install the required runtime (Python, Node.js, or Java) as per the project README.
2. Dependencies: Use the lockfile provided—pip install -r requirements.txt, npm ci or npm install, or Maven/Gradle for Java.
3. Environment variables: Copy .env.example to .env and fill in database URL, API keys, and other values. Never commit .env to version control.
4. Database: Create the database and run migrations or SQL scripts as documented. Seed data if provided.

Use a virtual environment (Python) or keep Node/Java versions consistent with the project to avoid "works on my machine" issues.