APP: update instructions to run on web

.devcontainer/devcontainer.json

+{
+  "name": "ICTS Housing Allotment Portal",
+  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/python:3.10",
+  "postCreateCommand": "pip install Flask pandas numpy",
+  "portsAttributes": {
+    "5000": {
+      "label": "Housing Portal Web GUI",
+      "onAutoForward": "openPreview"
+    }
+  },
+  "postStartCommand": "python app/server.py"
+}

.gitpod.yml

+tasks:
+  - init: pip install Flask pandas numpy
+    command: python app/server.py
+ports:
+  - port: 5000
+    onOpen: open-browser

app/README.md

@@ -4,7 +4,27 @@ A responsive Web GUI dashboard application designed to automate the housing lott
 
 ---
 
-## 1. How to Run
+## 0. Run Directly in your Browser (No Installation Required)
+
+If your code is hosted on a web-based repository (like GitHub or GitLab), any user can run this application directly in their web browser without installing Python or configuring any settings on their local machine.
+
+### Option 1: GitHub Codespaces (One-Click Launch)
+You can launch a browser-based environment directly by clicking this link:
+👉 **[Open in GitHub Codespaces](https://github.com/codespaces/new?repo=prayush/housing-allocator)**
+
+1. Click the link above (or go to **Code -> Codespaces -> Create codespace** on GitHub).
+2. A browser tab will open simulating a full coding environment. The system is pre-configured to automatically install requirements and launch the app in the background.
+3. In 15–30 seconds, a notification saying **"Open in Browser"** or **"Ports: Open Preview"** will pop up in the bottom-right corner. Click it to open the allotment portal!
+
+### Option 2: Gitpod
+You can also launch the portal directly using Gitpod by clicking this link:
+👉 **[Open in Gitpod](https://gitpod.io/#https://github.com/prayush/housing-allocator)**
+
+The workspace will spin up, configure the Python libraries, and automatically open the web portal in your browser.
+
+---
+
+## 1. How to Run (Local Computer Setup)
 
 ### On Windows (Detailed Step-by-Step Guide):
 If you have never used Python before, don't worry! Follow these simple instructions to set it up on your computer:
@@ -21,7 +41,7 @@ If you have never used Python before, don't worry! Follow these simple instructi
 
 #### Part B: Launch the Portal
 1. Open the folder where this project is saved on your computer (e.g. inside your Documents or Desktop).
-2. Double-click the file named [**run.bat**](file:///home/prayush/Documents/ICTS/ICTSHousingCell/icts-housing/app/run.bat) inside the `app/` folder.
+2. Double-click the file named [**run.bat**](run.bat) inside the `app/` folder.
 3. A black command prompt window will open. On the first launch, it will automatically download and install standard Excel/Web parsing packages (`Flask`, `pandas`, `numpy`). This takes around 15 seconds.
 4. **Keep this black command prompt window open** in the background (closing this window will stop the application engine).
 5. Open your web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc.) and type this address into the top URL bar:

app/run.sh

@@ -4,7 +4,16 @@
 DIR="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" >/dev/null 2>&1 && pwd )"
 cd "$DIR"
 
-# Launch Flask server with base Conda Python which contains pandas/numpy
-echo "Starting ICTS Housing Lottery Web GUI..."
+# Detect Python executable dynamically
+if command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    PYTHON_EXE="python3"
+elif command -v python >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    PYTHON_EXE="python"
+else
+    echo "Error: Python is not installed or not in PATH."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo "Starting ICTS Housing Allotment Portal Web GUI..."
 echo "Open your browser at: http://localhost:5000"
-/home/prayush/miniconda3/bin/python server.py
+$PYTHON_EXE server.py