# Key Points from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussion

• David Dalrymple's Nemaload project, funded by the Thiel Foundation, was discussed as a significant private science initiative focused on C. elegans connectome research with potential implications for mind uploading technology.

• Developers were working on improving NanoEngineer-1 (NE1) molecular design software, including a Windows x64 port with rendering bugs, and efforts to parallelize the software using pthreads to enhance performance for large molecular systems.

• A participant was developing Hylas-Lisp, an LLVM-based Lisp implementation that could potentially serve as a foundation for creating high-performance CAD software and simulators.

• An extended debate occurred about whether to pursue a DNA synthesis project within a university PhD program (with benefits of resources and funding) versus as an independent open-source hardware project (with advantages of IP ownership and licensing freedom).

• The conversation highlighted tensions between academic intellectual property policies and open-source development goals, with some arguing that university ownership would restrict true open-source development while others suggested institutions might be flexible for PR benefits.

• Technical infrastructure issues were discussed regarding NanoEngineer-1's repository management, including criticism of someone forking the project to SourceForge, reflecting the community's preference for more modern code hosting platforms.