# Key Technical and Conceptual Points from #hplusroadmap Discussions

• Developers worked on updating NanoEngineer-1 molecular modeling software to modern libraries, converting from Numeric to NumPy and addressing OpenGL rendering issues, with debate about whether to extract the 3D viewport code and rebuild other components from scratch.

• An open-source laser cutter project was discussed for creating a microfluidic DIY DNA synthesizer at approximately 1/100th the cost of commercial devices, alongside other DIY hardware projects including height mapping for CNC/3D printing and an openSpectrometer Kickstarter project.

• Participants debated the merits of FPGAs versus GPUs for simulation tasks, noting FPGAs excel for low-latency applications despite lower clock speeds, while also discussing how the high cost of specialized components (like £1600 InGaAs image sensors) creates barriers for DIY scientific equipment.

• A philosophical discussion emerged about software longevity, questioning whether programs intended for decades of use should be written in languages with simple specifications or leverage modern compilation techniques.

• The community critically analyzed a recent article on biohacking that contained historical inaccuracies, with members providing evidence that biohacker communities existed well before the claimed 2012 emergence.

• Significant debate occurred regarding MakerBot potentially abandoning open-source principles in response to Tangibot's funding, with users comparing MakerBot unfavorably to the more genuinely open-source RepRap 3D printing platform.

• Impressive achievements in high-resolution 3D printing were shared, including a MakerGear Prusa achieving 10 micron layers and an Ultimaker experiment reaching approximately 0.75 microns using spiral printing techniques.