Can I ask what hardware you deem necessary (for $850) to reprogram mining pool code?
From his FB page, doesn't look like he wants to reprogram a mining pool - he wants to reprogram a mining
client.
Mining clients will become extinct when the ASICs come out.
In the Fall of 2012, our team spent countless hours researching and using various mining programs from across the web. We compiled a list of what we like and what we didn't, and with these characteristics in mind, we will build what we think will be the best mining program out there.
Makes me wonder why the OP didn't correct the "mining
pool" comment when he replied, and if he knows he is programming soon-to-be-useless software.
I didn't correct the "pool" comment because I didn't notice it--like you said, it's not a pool but rather a mining client.
The client also isn't intended for those with ASICs. It's designed for 1. users with little knowledge of Bitcoin who want to see what mining is about and 2. individuals with higher-end equipment who don't want to jump on the ASICs train right away, or at all. Also included is the casual miner, who likely would have a gaming computer with nicer graphics cards to put to use.
Our primary goal is to create a program that gets beginners interested and attracts those miners not using ASICs, and delivers that mining experience with enhanced power and ease of use.