Create pre-submission validation tool ("preflight")

[tompollard]

I'd like to add functionality that that helps contributors verify their datasets before uploading to PhysioNet. This tool would catch common issues early, reduce editorial burden, and improve overall data quality and consistency. The idea would be that:

1. Users run the validator and fix any issues that are raised.
2. The validator produces a report card that is submitted to PhysioNet alongside the data package.

The tool could also be used by editors as a post-submission check.

Features could include:

1. Metadata & Documentation

• Verify required files exist (README.md at minimum)

2. Data Quality

• Validate file formats (CSV structure, WFDB integrity, etc.)
• Detect character encoding issues
• Check for valid file naming conventions (no special characters, reasonable path lengths)

3. Privacy & De-identification

• Scan for PHI patterns
• Verify ages >89 are de-identified per HIPAA requirements

4. Structure & Consistency

• Detect version control artifacts (.git, .DS_Store, .pyc, etc.)
• Validate directory structure follows conventions

5. Standards Compliance

• Check domain-specific standards (WFDB, DICOM, HL7 where applicable)

6. Performance & Size

• Calculate and report total dataset size

[tompollard]

Initial version of this tool available at: https://pypi.org/project/physionet/

The tool is highlighted in our submission guidelines: https://physionet.org/about/publish/#submission_overview