The last I checked in on Meph, he had just got his passport to enter Niger. hes on a multi country by bicycle trip across Africa, I'm not sure how many countries are on the itinerary But hes made some serious progress since December. I can't wait till his return... but don't forget, we got each other, we are a community, we can still be progressing. I already started a bug/fix repository, so we can keep track of issues in one location and post fixes for community, but there doesn't mean we can't do more.
To build a new pack is one thing. as soon as you update dfhack and masterwork to 43.05 x64, and replace the dwarf therapist and the other utilities with the x64 versions. Its a find and replace system, easily after that you can output a package with all those bits. Look for an update on lua scripts for any specific scripts utilized by the pack that needs updating. check for variation differences between 43.03 and 43.05 and begin the process of updating the raws and scripts for those differences.
Best case scenario, all the programs match, all the new lua scripts are available, and there are 0 differences in raw scripting needed. 2 to 4 days and first pack released is fully effective.
Worst case scenario, the programs match, lua scripts aren't fully working correctly, major differences in raw scripting needed, and the Masterwork gui needs a rewrite. I know a location of an old source.... but its Visual Basic... and it will take a ton of rewrite to get it to the same level as the current Masterwork gui, and then further edits for it to be ready for a new version release. Which means we would need a reverse engineer or for Meph to show up and produce a recent version of the gui source, so that the interment VB scripter doesn't have to do a complete rewrite from the old gui source.
Here's what I'm looking at... I'm capable of raw scripts, lua scripting to some extent. Boltgun is capable of raw scripting and lua scripting. There are several other raw scripters that are running around the campsite here. Basic package updating should be easy enough if it ends up being a best case scenario. If its a worst case scenario, well we need a VB scripter. I think I know a couple who are fluent in current VB versions and have compilers and setups ready... but they aren't a part of the Dwarf Fortress or Masterwork communities, and I hate to put them out there or call favors in.
In the end your options are that either :
a. wait for Meph to get done with his trip.
b. we as a community come together and help out where we can to bring out the beginning of the vision and put out an initial package and see where it goes from there. When Meph returns from his trip, he has a beginning to start from that has moved forward and ready for his continuing presence.
I don't care which we pick. I already plan to start building a basic package based off 1.23 with a 43.05 x64 DF, and current DFhack, and continue working on my scripts. If it doesn't fail to the point I can't repair it, well I'm willing to share and collaborate with anyone that wants to play with it... I'm hoping it ends the issue with the memory and LAA needs.... but I can't figure that out until we have a pack and start testing with it.