• SKDB, an open-source hardware package manager, is being refactored to cut load times in half by preventing duplicate CAD model loading and to auto-convert YAML nodes into File objects without explicit “!file” tags; future work includes a “machines_owned.yaml” workflow that fuzzy-matches user tool lists against known packages.

• A new assembly-instruction generator is being designed around inverted trees where nodes are parametric actions and edges are states, with the immediate priority on perfecting dependency resolution (skdb/core/dep.py) so the system can first state required parts before generating natural-language steps.

• Collision-aware motion planning for assembly is still missing; current BoundingBox placeholders must be replaced with ODE-based collision detection and joint constraints to verify whether a tool or human hand can physically reach and tighten a screw.

• Python-OCC (Open CASCADE) bindings are under evaluation: full local API docs have been generated, but the raw C++ API is considered hard to navigate and better Python introspection is needed; reference material is hosted at http://adl.serveftp.org/lab/opencascade/ and http://adl.serveftp.org/dokuwiki/occ.

• Freely accessible LEGO CAD data sources (lugnet partsref, peeron.com) and STEP files like brick_thin.stp were noted, alongside the need for an iges2png or stl2web preview site; MakerBeam modular micro-extrusion framing was also mentioned.

• A microfluidics prototyping hack using Shrinky-Dinks as ultra-low-cost substrates was shared from an MIT Technology Review article, and Sensorpedia.org was introduced as an open data-sharing platform for sensor feeds.

• Marshall Brain’s short story “Manna” (http://marshallbrain.com/manna1.htm) was recommended for its depiction of fully automated fast-food management and post-scarcity robotic governance.

• A paper on mechanical-system compatibility with standard components (http://adl.serveftp.org/papers/Compatibility%20issues%20for%20mechanical%20system%20modelling%20with%20standard%20components.pdf) was shared, with pages 7–9 detailing interface-mapping strategies.