D2, the open-core diagramming tool, has transitioned to fiscal sponsorship under Hack Club, becoming a fully independent non-profit project. The original for-profit company behind D2 is shutting down, but the open-source core will continue development under new governance. The creator, Alex, will maintain the project with limited time commitment, focusing on AI-accelerated development to rapidly evolve the tool's capabilities.

This shift marks the end of handcrafted code, as AI will drive all future contributions and reviews, allowing for features previously impossible due to engineering bandwidth. Key goals include native rendering integrations with platforms like GitHub and Notion, cutting a stable 1.0 release, and positioning D2 as the most powerful harness for AI agents. The project explicitly avoids bloat, focusing on a curated feature set for software architecture diagrams rather than becoming a Swiss Army knife.

A notable aspect of this transition is the rejection of server-dependent features; D2 will remain client-side and fully offline, with no API or user accounts. The creator emphasizes that while AI will power much of the development, human authorship remains for all communications. Those interested in contributing can apply for paid maintainer contracts funded by donations.

This transition ensures D2's longevity as a community-driven, open-source project.