While wandering around the TUNES site in search of kindred souls, I came across a link to the Principia Cybernetica Project.
It's always nice to get some confirmation on ideas that have been (literally) driving me crazy for a few years now. Now I feel a whole lot more relaxed, and a whole lot more humble. Big weight gone, now can hack. :)
What I read there and at the TUNES site also confirmed that my basic design for Figure is sound, so there's no excuse for me if I flub the implementation.
Anyway, I uploaded the latest GRUB to Debian yesterday. I'll make the formal alpha release when it hits the mirrors. Okuji's still doing the lion's share of the work, and he'll probably continue to do so until 1.0 is out the door (which shouldn't be very long, judging by his release goals).
I'm pretty sure Figure will be ready for grafting into GRUB shortly after 1.0, and then the ball will be back into my court again. It's good to work with Okuji... I just hope I'm not stressing him too much as I tilt at windmills.