bug: running the start.sh script from any directory than project root doesn't do the right thing

[qdzlug]

Describe the bug
Normally, we test by running ./bin/start.sh from the root of the project directory. However, this is not always a given and if you run it from some other directory (like within pulumi/python) then things don't work as expected.

To Reproduce
Run start.sh from a directory lower than the root w/ the full path.

Expected behavior
It should, umm, work. ...but it doesn't.

Your environment
n/a

Additional context
n/a

[qdzlug]

Note that if not fixed this will be rendered moot by @dekobon 's work on the startup process.

[qdzlug]

Will be closed by #167