Phase 27 · Lesson 16

Mastery Capstone Lab

≈ 2 min core reading · 199 source/companion words
Learning contract

What you should be able to do after this

  • Explain Mastery Capstone Lab without relying on framework buzzwords.
  • Connect the lesson to the phase outcome: Design a secure file-upload pipeline with storage objects, metadata, validation, signed access, lifecycle cleanup, and authorization.
  • Reproduce the relevant behavior and verify it with evidence.
  • Diagnose at least one representative failure instead of guessing.
Figure 27.16 — TaskFlow boundary map
upload intent
API authorization/validation
signed upload or storage request
object store
finalize metadata
signed/read access
This lesson belongs to Phase 27. Keep the full request/data path visible even when today's code changes only one box.
Instructor workflow: predict first → implement the smallest slice → run it → inspect evidence → break one assumption → diagnose → explain it back. Do not copy the whole code block before understanding the first failing boundary.

Mastery Capstone Lab

This is the transfer exercise for Phase 27: File Uploads & Supabase Storage. The detailed lessons are now closed-book reference material. Your task is to prove that the phase outcome can be reproduced from requirements, repository evidence, and debugging—not by copying a finished implementation.

Target artifact Task attachment upload/download/delete workflow using Supabase Storage plus application metadata.

Acceptance criteria - Write the behavior and constraints before implementation. - Identify the owning layer and every boundary crossed. - Implement the smallest complete vertical slice. - Verify the happy path from outside the implementation. - Demonstrate at least one expected failure path. - Run the phase-relevant quality checks. - Review the diff for accidental duplication, leaked responsibilities, missing validation/authorization, and hidden environment assumptions.

Evidence packet Save the command/request used, expected result, actual result, one failure reproduction, the fix, and a short explanation of why the final responsibility belongs where it does. This packet is more valuable than a screenshot of a green page because it demonstrates repeatable engineering reasoning.

Stretch Change one requirement after the first implementation. Measure which files must change. If a tiny domain change causes unrelated layers to move, use that evidence to discuss coupling before adding another abstraction.

Executable lesson studio · supabase

Now turn the explanation into engineering skill.

A guided lesson proves you can follow. A capstone proves you can transfer the model to a requirement with fewer cues.

By the end, you should be able to

  • Design a secure file-upload pipeline with storage objects, metadata, validation, signed access, lifecycle cleanup, and authorization.
  • Produce a reproducible evidence packet for success and failure.
  • Defend the architecture and identify one improvement without overengineering.
Figure 27.16B — Mental model
upload intent
API authorization/validation
signed upload or storage request
object store
finalize metadata
signed/read access
Read left-to-right while implementing. When debugging, walk right-to-left until the first observed fact differs from your prediction.
Code-along sequence

One coherent change at a time

  1. 01

    Define file policy: allowed types, size, naming/path rules, ownership, retention.

  2. 02

    Create an upload-intent endpoint that checks authenticated user and target task access before granting upload capability.

  3. 03

    Upload bytes directly to storage where appropriate rather than proxying large files through the API by default.

  4. 04

    Finalize by verifying object existence and committing metadata transactionally as far as the architecture allows.

  5. 05

    Generate time-limited access for private objects and test outsider access denial.

  6. 06

    Implement delete/cleanup behavior for abandoned uploads and metadata/object mismatch.

  7. 07

    Run the phase mastery checklist without looking at the provided implementation.

  8. 08

    Perform a short architecture review and document one trade-off you consciously accepted.

txtCapstone evidence packet
Requirement -> implementation diff -> verification -> controlled failure -> diagnosis -> final proof

Do not copy this as a finished answer. Predict what each boundary does, type the smallest useful slice, run it, then compare the result with your prediction.

Verification

Prove the happy path

  1. Can separate object bytes and metadata
  2. Can validate/authorize upload intent
  3. Can use signed access
  4. Can reason about partial failure cleanup
Break it on purpose

Build debugging memory

  1. Trusting filename extension as MIME proof
  2. Public bucket for private tenant files
SymptomInvestigation path
You can only continue by copying the reference

Return to the mental model and acceptance criteria. Rebuild one smaller slice from first principles before reopening the source.

Everything seems to work but proof is weak

Choose an external observer: HTTP client, browser, database query, test runner, health endpoint, or deployment log, and capture deterministic evidence.

Closed-reference challenge

Can you transfer the idea?

Extend the phase artifact with one requirement not used in the guided example while preserving the same ownership rules and verification strategy.

Explain-back

Answer these without reopening the solution

  1. What did you build without a transcript?
  2. Which boundary caused the most reasoning effort?
  3. Which failure gave the strongest evidence?
  4. What shortcut did you deliberately avoid?
  5. What would you automate before repeating this in a team?
Lesson studio

Turn the reading into skill

01

Do it

Finalize by verifying object existence and committing metadata transactionally as far as the architecture allows.

Use the smallest change that demonstrates this lesson. Stop after it works and capture evidence.
02

Break it safely

Database metadata created before upload succeeds with no cleanup

Predict the symptom before causing the failure. Then locate the earliest boundary where reality diverges from expectation.
03

Explain it back

Why does this responsibility live here, what input does it trust, what output proves success, and what would go wrong if another layer owned it?

If your explanation is vague, repeat the boundary trace before moving on.
Exit ticket

Before marking complete

Close the reference. Reproduce the core idea from memory or explain the exact request/data flow aloud. Then check your diff or notes for accidental shortcuts that bypass validation, authorization, error handling, or verification earned in earlier phases.