Polish dashboard UX and update README

- Wrap simulation controls in form to prevent page reruns on change
- Fix TempCo test configs to use 2+ temperature points
- Add Installation, Quick Start, and usage examples to README

README.md

@@ -29,11 +29,82 @@ ThermalATE enables offline development of ATE (Automated Test Equipment) charact
 | [Technical Specification](docs/02_technical_specification.md) | Specifies **how** to implement the system |
 | [Architecture Decisions](docs/03_architecture_decisions.md) | Explains **why** decisions were made |
 
+## Installation
+
+```bash
+# Clone the repository
+git clone https://github.com/yourrepo/py_dvt_ate.git
+cd py_dvt_ate
+
+# Install with development dependencies
+pip install -e ".[dev]"
+```
+
+## Quick Start
+
+### Interactive Dashboard
+
+Launch the Streamlit dashboard to visualise the physics simulation and run tests:
+
+```bash
+py-dvt-ate dashboard
+```
+
+This opens a browser window with:
+- **Live Simulation** - Real-time temperature/voltage charts with physics coupling
+- **Test Execution** - Run TempCo characterisation tests
+- **Results Viewer** - Browse and analyse historical test results
+
+### CLI Commands
+
+```bash
+# Start the simulation server (TCP ports for SCPI instruments)
+py-dvt-ate serve
+
+# List available tests
+py-dvt-ate tests list
+
+# Run a TempCo test
+py-dvt-ate tests run tempco --config config/tempco_test.yaml
+```
+
+### Programmatic API
+
+```python
+from py_dvt_ate.instruments import InstrumentFactory
+from py_dvt_ate.simulation import SimulationServer
+
+# Start simulation server
+server = SimulationServer()
+server.start()
+
+# Create instruments via HAL
+factory = InstrumentFactory()
+instruments = factory.create_from_config("config/default.yaml")
+
+# Control instruments using standard interfaces
+instruments.chamber.set_temperature(85.0)
+instruments.psu.set_voltage(1, 5.0)
+instruments.psu.enable_output(1, True)
+voltage = instruments.dmm.measure_dc_voltage()
+
+print(f"Output voltage: {voltage:.4f} V")
+```
+
 ## Project Status
 
-**Status:** In Development
+**Status:** MVP Complete (v0.1.0)
 
-This project is currently being developed. See the requirements document for the full scope and success criteria.
+The core vertical slice is functional:
+- Physics engine with thermal-electrical coupling
+- Virtual instruments (chamber, PSU, DMM)
+- Hardware Abstraction Layer
+- SCPI-over-TCP server
+- Test framework with TempCo test
+- Streamlit dashboard
+- SQLite/Parquet data persistence
+
+See the requirements document for the full scope and future phases.
 
 ## Technology Stack
 

src/py_dvt_ate/app/dashboard/app.py

@@ -233,64 +233,73 @@ def display_controls() -> None:
 
     st.sidebar.divider()
 
+    # Parameter Controls - wrapped in form to prevent reruns on every change
+    with st.sidebar.form("parameter_controls"):
+        st.subheader("Simulation Parameters")
+        st.caption("💡 Change parameters below, then click Apply to update the simulation")
+
         # Time multiplier
-    st.sidebar.subheader("Simulation Speed")
+        time_multiplier = st.select_slider(
-    st.sidebar.select_slider(
             "Time Multiplier",
             options=[1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100],
-        value=10,
+            value=st.session_state.get("time_multiplier", 10),
             format_func=lambda x: f"{x}x",
-        key="time_multiplier",
-    )
-    st.sidebar.caption(
-        f"1 real second = {st.session_state.get('time_multiplier', 10)} simulation seconds"
         )
+        st.caption(f"1 real second = {time_multiplier} simulation seconds")
 
-    st.sidebar.divider()
+        st.divider()
 
         # Temperature setpoint
-    st.sidebar.subheader("Thermal Chamber")
+        st.markdown("**Thermal Chamber**")
-    st.sidebar.slider(
+        temp_setpoint = st.slider(
             "Temperature Setpoint (C)",
             min_value=-40.0,
             max_value=125.0,
-        value=25.0,
+            value=st.session_state.get("temp_setpoint", 25.0),
             step=5.0,
-        key="temp_setpoint",
         )
 
-    st.sidebar.divider()
+        st.divider()
 
         # Power supply controls
-    st.sidebar.subheader("Power Supply")
+        st.markdown("**Power Supply**")
-    st.sidebar.slider(
+        input_voltage = st.slider(
             "Input Voltage (V)",
             min_value=0.0,
             max_value=12.0,
-        value=5.0,
+            value=st.session_state.get("input_voltage", 5.0),
             step=0.1,
-        key="input_voltage",
         )
 
-    st.sidebar.toggle(
+        output_enabled = st.toggle(
             "Output Enabled",
-        value=False,
+            value=st.session_state.get("output_enabled", False),
-        key="output_enabled",
         )
 
-    st.sidebar.divider()
+        st.divider()
 
         # Load controls
-    st.sidebar.subheader("Electronic Load")
+        st.markdown("**Electronic Load**")
-    st.sidebar.slider(
+        load_current = st.slider(
             "Load Current (mA)",
             min_value=0.0,
             max_value=500.0,
-        value=100.0,
+            value=st.session_state.get("load_current", 100.0),
             step=10.0,
-        key="load_current",
         )
 
+        # Apply button
+        submitted = st.form_submit_button("✅ Apply Changes", type="primary", use_container_width=True)
+
+        if submitted:
+            # Update session state with new values
+            st.session_state.time_multiplier = time_multiplier
+            st.session_state.temp_setpoint = temp_setpoint
+            st.session_state.input_voltage = input_voltage
+            st.session_state.output_enabled = output_enabled
+            st.session_state.load_current = load_current
+            st.rerun()
+
 
 @st.fragment(run_every=0.1)
 def simulation_display() -> None:
@@ -613,13 +622,13 @@ def test_execution_page() -> None:
                 runner: TestRunner = st.session_state.test_runner
                 instruments: InstrumentSet = st.session_state.instruments
 
-                # Connect instruments before running test
+                # Instruments should already be connected from dashboard startup
+                # Just verify they're connected
                 try:
-                    instruments.chamber.transport.connect()  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+                    # Quick connectivity check
-                    instruments.psu.transport.connect()  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+                    _ = instruments.chamber.get_temperature()
-                    instruments.dmm.transport.connect()  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
                 except Exception as e:
-                    st.error(f"Failed to connect to instruments: {e}")
+                    st.error(f"Instruments not available: {e}")
                     st.session_state.test_running = False
                     st.stop()
 

src/py_dvt_ate/data/repository.py

@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@ class ITestRepository(ABC):
     def get_all_runs(self) -> list[TestRun]:
         """Retrieve all test runs, ordered by started_at descending."""
 
+    def close(self) -> None:
+        """Close repository and release resources. Optional to implement."""
+
 
 class SQLiteRepository(ITestRepository):
     """SQLite-based repository for test data.
@@ -400,3 +403,13 @@ class SQLiteRepository(ITestRepository):
                 )
                 for row in rows
             ]
+
+    def close(self) -> None:
+        """Close repository and release resources.
+
+        SQLite connections are managed via context managers and auto-close.
+        This method performs explicit cleanup for Windows file handle issues.
+        """
+        # Force garbage collection to release any lingering connections
+        import gc
+        gc.collect()

tests/integration/test_e2e.py

@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ def test_e2e_tempco_characterization(simulation_server: ServerConfig) -> None:
         # Timestamps should be monotonically increasing
         assert measurements_df["timestamp"].is_monotonic_increasing
 
+        # Cleanup: close repository before tempdir cleanup (Windows file locking)
+        repository.close()
+
 
 def test_e2e_server_lifecycle(simulation_server: ServerConfig) -> None:
     """Test simulation server lifecycle management.
@@ -240,17 +243,21 @@ def test_e2e_multiple_test_runs(simulation_server: ServerConfig) -> None:
         test = TempCoTest()
 
         config1 = {
-            "temperatures": [25.0],
+            "temperatures": [0.0, 25.0],  # Need at least 2 points for TempCo
             "input_voltage": 5.0,
             "load_current": 0.1,
             "settle_time": 0.5,
+            "num_samples": 3,
+            "tempco_limit": 100.0,
         }
 
         config2 = {
-            "temperatures": [25.0],
+            "temperatures": [25.0, 50.0],  # Need at least 2 points for TempCo
             "input_voltage": 3.3,
             "load_current": 0.05,
             "settle_time": 0.5,
+            "num_samples": 3,
+            "tempco_limit": 100.0,
         }
 
         run_id1 = runner.run_test(test, instruments, config1, operator="test_user_1")
@@ -277,3 +284,6 @@ def test_e2e_multiple_test_runs(simulation_server: ServerConfig) -> None:
         assert len(all_runs) >= 2
         assert any(r.id == str(run_id1) for r in all_runs)
         assert any(r.id == str(run_id2) for r in all_runs)
+
+        # Cleanup: close repository before tempdir cleanup (Windows file locking)
+        repository.close()