Please refer to my other comment on this post regarding the Sauna name and my testnet attempts. One of the testnet obstacles I hit was that I needed Windows "Pro" for the virtual machine for.. either EOS or LN (think it was EOS- my computer tech stuff is always in a cloud as I file it deep away when no longer working on a project). Like starting an old car with a quarter inch of dust, plus I am quite inexp.

Anyway, I think there is something there with Sauna and as I mentioned Plasma

I'm sure I could get comparable cross-platform compatibility with python, or a lot of other languages, but I like java. There's also virtually nothing built for the Steem blockchain with java, and it's kind of neat to be taking the road less traveled.

I don't have much free time on my hands, but if you are set on a development course, feel free to include me in the discussion and I'll see what I can pick up. Yes on the road less traveled.