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_first_hour.py

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import sys
 import tempfile
 
 ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
-EXE = ROOT / ("claro.exe" if os.name == "nt" else "claro")
+EXE = Path(os.environ.get("CLARO_EXE", str(ROOT / ("claro.exe" if os.name == "nt" else "claro")))).resolve()
 INPUTS = {2: "Ada\n", 5: "4\n"}
 EXPECTED = {
     1: "Hello!\n",
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def main() -> int:
             script.write_text(block + "\n", encoding="utf-8")
             run = subprocess.run([str(EXE), str(script)], cwd=tmp,
                                  input=INPUTS.get(number, ""), text=True,
-                                 capture_output=True)
+                                 capture_output=True, timeout=10)
             if run.returncode or run.stdout != EXPECTED[number]:
                 print(f"FAIL: First Hour block {number}: exit={run.returncode}")
                 print(f"expected stdout: {EXPECTED[number]!r}")