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Proof Ladder

Guide Fit

flowchart TD
  family["Reproducible Research"] --> program["Deep Dive DVC"]
  program --> pressure["A concrete learner or reviewer question"]
  pressure --> guide["Proof Ladder"]
  guide --> next["Modules, capstone, and reference surfaces"]
flowchart TD
  question["Name the exact question you need answered"] --> skim["Skim only the sections that match that pressure"]
  skim --> crosscheck["Open the linked module, proof surface, or capstone route"]
  crosscheck --> next_move["Leave with one next decision, page, or command"]

Read the first diagram as a timing map: this guide is for a named pressure, not for wandering the whole course-book. Read the second diagram as the guide loop: arrive with a concrete question, use only the matching sections, then leave with one smaller and more honest next move.

This page fixes a recurring problem: the course has enough proof routes that learners can easily overreach. They run the strongest command first, get buried in evidence, and lose the trust question they were trying to settle.

Use this page to keep proof proportional to the question.

The Ladder

Move down this ladder only when the smaller step no longer answers the question honestly.

Proof level Command Best use Cost
1 make PROGRAM=reproducible-research/deep-dive-dvc capstone-tour first contact with repository meaning low
2 make PROGRAM=reproducible-research/deep-dive-dvc capstone-verify ordinary executable proof of current repository truth low to medium
3 make PROGRAM=reproducible-research/deep-dive-dvc capstone-verify-report durable saved verification evidence medium
4 make PROGRAM=reproducible-research/deep-dive-dvc capstone-experiment-review focused review of changed experiment state medium
5 make PROGRAM=reproducible-research/deep-dive-dvc capstone-recovery-review focused review of remote-backed recovery truth medium
6 make PROGRAM=reproducible-research/deep-dive-dvc capstone-release-review focused review of published state and promotion trust medium
7 make PROGRAM=reproducible-research/deep-dive-dvc capstone-confirm strongest stewardship and confirmation pass highest

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Which Questions Belong To Which Level

Question Start at
what is this repository trying to prove capstone-tour
does the current repository state still match the contract capstone-verify
do I need durable verification evidence I can review later capstone-verify-report
how should I compare experiment candidates capstone-experiment-review
what survives cache loss and remote restore capstone-recovery-review
what is safe for downstream trust capstone-release-review
is this repository ready for the strongest stewardship pass capstone-confirm

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Anti-Patterns This Ladder Prevents

The ladder exists to prevent these clumsy review habits:

  • running capstone-confirm when capstone-tour would answer the question
  • treating one large bundle as automatically better than a narrower one
  • confusing recovery review with release review
  • burying a first-contact learner in governance evidence before state identity is legible

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Best Companion Pages

Use these with the ladder:

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