# Key Ideas from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussions

• SKDB (Social Knowledge Database) was developed as a Python-based system for sharing standardized design files and manufacturing instructions, using YAML format to represent physical objects with their properties, interfaces, and acceptable input ranges to enable "downloading hardware over the web."

• Participants debated instruction representation formats for DIY projects, focusing on creating machine-readable yet human-friendly manufacturing instructions with validation systems that could check for missing components, tools, or materials.

• The group discussed distributed manufacturing concepts including "AnyToy" and "RedBox for stuff," envisioning kiosk-based fabrication services that would democratize access to manufacturing without requiring personal ownership of expensive equipment.

• Biohacking discussions explored engineering bacterial colonies with programmable behaviors, including the theoretical possibility of bacteria that form cohesive structures through selective adhesion proteins, respond to light (phototaxis), or create "photopolymers" when exposed to specific wavelengths.

• Participants debated the effectiveness of patents for individual inventors versus corporations, expressing concerns about legal exploitation and discussing strategies to ensure ideas remain in the commons and unpatentable.

• An urban agriculture project was proposed featuring webcam crop monitoring, social networking for recipe sharing, and automated hydroponic/aeroponic systems, demonstrating the channel's interest in open-source approaches to food production.