# Key Technical and Conceptual Points from #hplusroadmap IRC

• Participants discussed Git repository management techniques for collaborative development, specifically troubleshooting mirroring issues and cgit web interface caching problems for a RepRap repository being set up at diyhpl.us/cgit/reprap/.

• The SKDB (Software Knowledge Database) project was discussed as a platform for hardware design sharing and synthesis planning, featuring a "retrosynthesis engine" that could determine chemical synthesis paths based on available inventory.

• Laboratory tracking technologies were explored, including RFID tagging for chemical containers and IR sensor systems for tracking glassware and equipment in lab environments, alongside Makerbot's QR code-based inventory management system.

• A philosophical perspective on privacy was shared, framing it not merely as secrecy but as a necessary filter against noise to maintain focus and creativity in technical work.

• Daeken and kanzure collaborated on licensing for Python Emotiv software (choosing GPL2), with work underway on modifications to allow feeding fake data to the software, suggesting development of brain-computer interface tools.

• Participants noted the prohibitive economics of chip development, with kanzure citing "$100 million to survive" as the requirement for a leading-edge fabless chip company, highlighting barriers to entry in hardware innovation.

• A bioethics.gov meeting featuring Jason Bobe was mentioned in relation to the government's review of Craig Venter's synthetic biology claims, indicating the group's interest in policy developments affecting emerging technologies.