Quick Start & Hosting Guide
Relevant source files
The following files were used as context for generating this wiki page:
The GestaltView Visual Story is a self-contained static site that visualizes diagrams from the GestaltView Master Wiki v4.0. The project allows users to explore 54 visuals across seven narrative chapters without requiring a backend, API keys, or external image dependencies.
This guide details the process for hosting the static artifact, previewing it locally, and optionally rebuilding the site from source materials. The system architecture prioritizes offline traceability and zero-dependency runtime execution.
Sources: README.md:1-13, diagram_inventory.json:5-15
Hosting and Deployment
The project requires no frontend build step. You host the repository by serving the root directory as a static site document root. The runtime environment requires only the index.html file, which contains all embedded visuals and story data.
Deployment Process
If you use a hosting provider that requires a build command, you must leave that command empty. Set the publish or output directory to the repository root (.).
This diagram shows the simple deployment flow for the static artifact.
Repository Content Roles
| File / Directory | Role in Hosting |
|---|---|
index.html | The primary, self-contained entry point for readers. |
story_assets/ | Contains source-page crops and Mermaid renders (shipped with the site). |
diagram_inventory.json | Stores source references, explanations, and asset maps. |
docs/ | Contains design notes and provenance information. |
tests/ | Provides acceptance checks for coverage and navigation. |
Sources: README.md:7-34, build_story_artifact.py:20-25
Local Development and Preview
You can preview the guide locally using any standard web server. Modern browsers can also open index.html directly.
Running a Local Server
To preview the site from your local terminal:
- Open your terminal in the repository root.
- Run the Python HTTP server:
python3 -m http.server 8000 - Access the site at
http://localhost:8000.
Sources: README.md:15-20
Validation
Before deploying, verify the integrity of the visuals and navigation by running the unit tests:
python3 -m unittest discover -s tests -v
These tests check for visual coverage, attribution, and asset availability.
Sources: README.md:48-52
Rebuilding the Site (Optional)
Rebuilding the site refreshes index.html and diagram_inventory.json using the source PDF. Note that the source PDF is not included in the repository to minimize bundle size.
Rebuild Workflow
If you need to update the visuals from a new version of the wiki:
- Provide a copy of
GestaltView_Master_Wiki_v4.0.pdfin the root directory. - Install the necessary Python libraries:
python3 -m pip install -r requirements-build.txt - Execute the builder script:
python3 build_story_artifact.py
This sequence illustrates how the builder script processes the source PDF to generate the hosting artifact.
Builder Requirements
The builder uses the manus-render-diagram utility to process Mermaid source snippets. This utility must be available in your environment for the rebuild to complete successfully.
Sources: README.md:37-46, build_story_artifact.py:380-410
Narrative Chapters
The site organizes visuals into the following chapters, defined in the system inventory:
- foundation: Why being seen needs infrastructure.
- capture: A thought gets somewhere safe to land.
- continuity: Memory is more than finding a similar sentence.
- companions: Help is a system of roles, not one magic box.
- creation: An artifact passes through a gate before it leaves.
- governance: Safety is part of the architecture.
- topology: The map behind the map.
Sources: diagram_inventory.json:20-65, build_story_artifact.py:53-90
This hosting guide ensures that developers and architects can reliably deploy the Interactive Storytelling Layer as a zero-dependency, traceable documentation tool.