fix: stabilize learning path, reliability and legacy Windows builds

Unify beginner syntax while preserving compatibility, repair ownership and parser guards, add verified distribution tooling and VC6 Windows 98 build inputs, and clarify documentation and release status. Preserve DOS build-input line endings and exclude generated binaries/caches.

tools/validate_documentation_status.py

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Check active status/navigation without treating historical claims as current."""
+import ast
+from pathlib import Path
+import re
+from urllib.parse import unquote, urlsplit
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+ACTIVE = (
+    'README.md', 'docs/README.md', 'docs/CURRENT_STATUS.md',
+    'docs/RELEASE_STATUS.md', 'docs/FINAL_RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md',
+    'docs/CLASSROOM_READINESS.md', 'docs/TESTING.md', 'docs/HARDENING.md',
+    'docs/PORTABILITY.md', 'docs/RELIABILITY.md',
+    'docs/history/CURRENT_STATUS_BEFORE_STATUS_CLEANUP.md',
+    'docs/history/HARDENING_BEFORE_STATUS_CLEANUP.md',
+)
+
+
+def validate():
+    match = re.search(r'#define CLARO_VERSION "Claro ([^"]+)"',
+                      (ROOT / 'src/claro.c').read_text())
+    assert match, 'Missing runtime version'
+    version = match.group(1)
+    readme = (ROOT / 'README.md').read_text()
+    assert 'Current release:' not in readme, 'A development stamp is not a published release'
+    assert f'Development version: **{version}**' in readme, 'README must match the runtime development stamp'
+    status = (ROOT / 'docs/CURRENT_STATUS.md').read_text()
+    assert version in status and 'RELEASE_STATUS.md' in status
+    assert len(status.splitlines()) <= 100, 'Keep the current status concise; archive detailed history'
+    assert 'not a sandbox' in status.lower()
+    release = (ROOT / 'docs/RELEASE_STATUS.md').read_text()
+    assert 'not published' in release.lower() and 'wine' in release.lower()
+    assert 'unverified' in release.lower() and 'MSVC600' in release
+    checklist = (ROOT / 'docs/FINAL_RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md').read_text()
+    assert 'v1.xx.yy' not in checklist and 'vYYYY.MM.DD.HHMMSS' in checklist
+    assert '[ ]' in checklist, 'Release actions must be explicit, unchecked gates'
+    classroom = (ROOT / 'docs/CLASSROOM_READINESS.md').read_text().lower()
+    assert 'learner testing' in classroom and 'not yet validated' in classroom
+    hardening = (ROOT / 'docs/HARDENING.md').read_text()
+    assert 'historical' in hardening.lower() and 'RELIABILITY.md' in hardening
+    for name in ['CURRENT_STATUS_BEFORE_STATUS_CLEANUP.md', 'HARDENING_BEFORE_STATUS_CLEANUP.md']:
+        assert (ROOT / 'docs/history' / name).is_file(), ('Missing historical record', name)
+    tree = ast.parse((ROOT / 'tools/stamp_version.py').read_text())
+    current_docs = next(ast.literal_eval(n.value) for n in tree.body
+                        if isinstance(n, ast.Assign) and any(isinstance(t, ast.Name) and t.id == 'CURRENT_DOCS' for t in n.targets))
+    assert 'RELEASE_STATUS.md' not in current_docs, 'Do not re-stamp immutable verification checkpoints'
+    checked = 0
+    for name in ACTIVE:
+        path = ROOT / name
+        text = re.sub(r'```.*?```', '', path.read_text(), flags=re.S)
+        for target in re.findall(r'!?\[[^\]]*\]\(([^\s)]+)\)', text):
+            url = urlsplit(target)
+            if url.scheme or url.netloc or not url.path:
+                continue
+            destination = (path.parent / unquote(url.path)).resolve()
+            assert destination.is_relative_to(ROOT), (name, 'Link leaves the repository', target)
+            assert destination.exists(), (name, 'Broken local link', target)
+            checked += 1
+    print(f'PASS: development/release separation, archived history, claim scope, and {checked} local documentation links')
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    validate()