Added prerequisites for the tutorials

docs/Prerequisites.md

@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+---
+# markdownlint-disable
+# vale off
+# tags used by just-the-docs theme
+layout: default
+title: Prerequisites
+nav_order: 2
+parent: KeepIT API
+# tags used by AI files
+description: Prerequisites to use the API service
+topic_type: overview
+ai_relevance: high
+importance: 6
+api_endpoints: /collections
+version: "v1.0"
+last_updated: "2026-03-01"
+# vale  on
+# markdownlint-enable
+---
+
+# Prerequisites
+
+These are the steps you must complete before you can run the tutorials for the **KeepIT API**.
+
+Expect this preparation to take about 15 minutes.
+
+## What you need
+
+To complete the tutorials, install the following on your development system. You might want to open the links in separate browser tabs before you start.
+
+- A current version of [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/download) (LTS version recommended)
+- Version 0.17.4 of [json-server](https://www.npmjs.com/package/json-server/v/0.17.4)
+- A fork of the [KeepIT repository](https://github.com/KhushbuB/KeepIt)
+- The [Postman desktop app](https://www.postman.com/downloads/)
+
+  **Note:** Because KeepIT runs locally on `http://localhost:3000`, the web version of Postman can't connect to it. Use the desktop app.
+
+## Start the KeepIT server
+
+1. Open a terminal and navigate to the `api` folder in your local copy of the KeepIT repository.
+
+    ```bash
+    cd <your repository workspace>
+    cd KeepIt/api
+    ```
+
+2. Start the json-server using the KeepIT data file in the terminal.
+
+    ```bash
+    json-server -w keepit-source.json
+    ```
+
+3. Confirm the server is running. You should see output like this:
+
+    ```
+    \{^_^}/ hi!
+
+    Loading keepit-source.json
+    Done
+
+    Resources
+    http://localhost:3000/collections
+    http://localhost:3000/items
+
+    Home
+    http://localhost:3000
+    ```
+
+## Test your setup
+
+Run a test call from another terminal to confirm the server responds correctly.
+
+```bash
+curl http://localhost:3000/collections/1
+```
+
+If the server is running correctly, you should see a list of collections like this:
+
+```json
+[
+  {
+    "id": 1,
+    "name": "Austin Photographs",
+    "description": "Historical and contemporary photographs of Austin, Texas.",
+    "location": "Server A, Folder /austin-photos/",
+    "itemCount": 18
+  }
+]
+```
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+If you get an error, check the following:
+
+- You're in the correct directory (`KeepIt/api`)
+- The `keepit-source.json` file exists in that folder
+- json-server version 0.17.4 is installed (`json-server --version`)
+- Node.js is installed and up to date (`node --version`)
+
+Once your server responds correctly, you're ready to start the tutorials.

docs/index.md

@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ Use this API to manage your digital archive - organize collections, add items, a
 2. Send requests to `http://localhost:3000`
 3. Use curl, Postman, or any API client to interact with the API
 
+See [prerequisites](Prerequisites.md) to test your setup.
+
 ## API endpoints
 
 ### Collections