# Key Ideas from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussions

• Participants discussed "skdb," described as "apt-get for real stuff," an open-source hardware management system for tracking dependencies, tools, assembly instructions, and implementation alternatives for DIY hardware projects, with ongoing development of modules like "pymates" for determining mechanical part compatibility.

• DIY biohacking was a major focus, with detailed discussions about building affordable DNA synthesizers (using "microscope + DLP projector + plumbing" designs), PCR thermocyclers (comparing $25 light bulb designs versus $350 aluminum block versions), and extraction methods from common materials like salmon sperm and strawberries.

• Novel scientific applications were explored, including using cuttlebone treated with yttrium to create lightweight superconductors with high critical current, and the concept of viral assembly of quantum dots for nanoscale LED production.

• The group discussed plans for DIY manufacturing technologies, including a Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) machine project being developed in Houston and Brussels, and various welding setups for metalworking projects.

• Visualization tools for complex dependency relationships were compared, with participants discussing GraphViz algorithms (dot versus neato) and referencing systems like debgraph and gnowledge.org for analyzing package dependencies.

• Participants identified "low-hanging fruit" technologies for DIY transhumanism, including microfluidics, augmented reality, wearables, and book scanning, with references to a "trans-tech.yaml" file documenting dependencies between technologies.

• The conversation revealed a strong open-source ethos applied to traditionally expensive domains (biotech, engineering, manufacturing), with participants consistently seeking to democratize access to advanced technologies through DIY approaches and knowledge sharing.