4.0 - Will add support for package management, such as package dependencies. This will make it easier to provide software updates and fixes. Anyone who wants to join the FreeDOS Project should first read the FreeDOS Maintainers Lists. This lists the software that has already been written for the FreeDOS Project. The mailing list is where most of the discussion about FreeDOS happens these days.
Programmers talk about their ideas here.
We get a chance to review new changes, new libraries, new programs, and everyone has the opportunity to suggest improvements. For example, I have gotten a lot of good feedback from the mailing list when adding package info file support to the FreeDOS Install Program. But you don't have to be able to write programs to contribute to the FreeDOS Project. There are many things that still need to done, which don't require programming experience. Help is also needed with the FreeDOS Documentation Project.