--- /dev/null
+Students
+========
+
+This directory contains scripts for testing your machine to make sure
+you have the software you'll need for your boot camp installed. See
+the comments at the head of each script for more details, but you'll
+basically want to see something like:
+
+ $ python swc-installation-test-1.py
+ Passed
+ $ python swc-installation-test-2.py
+ check virtual-shell... pass
+ …
+ Successes:
+
+ virtual-shell Bourne Again Shell (bash) 4.2.37
+ …
+
+If you see something like:
+
+ $ python swc-installation-test-2.py
+ check virtual-shell... fail
+ …
+ For instructings on installing a particular package,
+ see the failure message for that package printed above.
+ …
+
+follow the suggestions to try and install any missing software.
+
+Instructors
+===========
+
+`swc-installation-test-1.py` is pretty simple, and just checks that
+the students have a recent enough version of Python installed that
+they'll be able to parse `swc-installation-test-2.py`. The latter
+checks for a list of dependencies and prints error messages if a
+package is not installed, or if the installed version is not current
+enough. By default, the script checks for pretty much anything that
+has ever been used at a Software Carpentry boot camp, which is
+probably not what you want for your particular boot camp.
+
+Before your boot camp, you should go through
+`swc-installation-test-2.py` and comment any dependencies you don't
+need out of the `CHECKS` list. You might also want to skim through
+the minimum version numbers listed where particular dependencies are
+defined (e.g. `('git', 'Git', (1, 7, 0))`). For the most part, fairly
+conservative values have been selected, so students with modern
+machines should be fine. If your boot camp has stricter version
+requirements, feel free to bump them accordingly.
+
+Similarly, the virtual dependencies can be satisfied by any of several
+packages. If you don't want to support a particular package (e.g. if
+you have no Emacs experience and don't want to be responsible for
+students who show up with Emacs as their only editor), you can comment
+out that particular `or_dependency`.
+
+Finally, don't forget to post your modified scripts somewhere where
+your students can download them!