# Key Points from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussion (May 24, 2012)

• Biotech job opportunities for programmers are primarily in bioinformatics, with limited opportunities for programming lab equipment due to warranty concerns and vendor support contracts, leading one participant to note they hadn't "seen a non-sucky biotech job yet, unless you're shooting for management."

• Lab equipment economics revealed that high costs ($50k+ for DNA synthesizers, $5,000+ for commercial thermocyclers) stem from patent restrictions, engineering complexity, and low production volumes, creating potential market opportunities for open-source alternatives like OpenPCR ($599).

• Alternative sources for affordable lab equipment include university surplus sales, lab liquidations, and online marketplaces like LabX, LabSurplus, LabTrader, and eBay, with participants sharing success stories of finding free glassware and computers at institutions like UCSD and UW.

• Open-source development in specialized scientific tools was discussed, including a GitHub repository for Nanoengineer (a Qt-based molecular engineering application) and JModelica as a free alternative to the $3,500 proprietary System Modeler.

• Technical discussions covered programming challenges like dependency management with Qt libraries, comparisons between scripting languages (Lua, Python, Ruby) for game development, and cross-platform development friction when compiling software across operating systems.

• A new 3D motion control system called Leap was shared, potentially representing an advancement in human-computer interaction technology relevant to transhumanist interests in novel interfaces.