3-Week Course
Build a Cyberdeck
06.27.26 - 07.11.26 3 weeks live & online, 8 hours in class
with Liz Howard
Part of the Home Cyber Defense track, 5 classes, take them in any order.
See the whole trackCourse Schedule
Scavenge
Saturday, June 27 at 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM PDTWe're going to be taking apart old phones for their screens or ordering screens on the internet that will work for us. We'll also talk about things that you can use to put your cyberdeck in. This is largely anything, but we'll talk about fun things to go and thrift. We'll also talk about the range of hardware you can buy and what kind of old things you can use instead of buying. You may need to buy something BUT: it is likely someone will have something you could have.
Build & Configure
Saturday, July 11 at 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM PDTWe'll start putting the electronics together- folks will probably share some ideas for how to keep things secured. The answer is Hot Glue. It's always been Hot Glue. The second session is also for Installing Linux. Since you are your own electronics manufacturer, you can assume the risk of installing Ageless Linux and ensuring no children are ever inadvertently exposed to an operating system. We'll also configure our new computer to connect to our meshtastic node, allowing it to communicate with other cyberdecks running on the 915mz band!
All times shown in Pacific Time
Who Is This Course For
Everyone
Who this is for & what you'll need
No code
The AI writes any code. You'll never touch a terminal.
Physical parts
This class uses hardware you'll bring or build.
What to bring
Build your own handheld: a single-board computer (Orange Pi Zero 3 ~$25 up to Orange Pi 5 Max ~$350), a small screen, a high-endurance microSD card (~$10-35), a USB keyboard, and power (a USB-C power bank or 18650 cells) in an enclosure. Starter builds run ~$75-120; the syllabus has a full shopping list with links. Beginner-friendly with AI help, no prior experience.
Where This Class Leads
What you leave able to do
- locate a substitute part when the named one is unavailable
- locate an open source replacement for software you pay for
- run a program someone else wrote and read its error
- assemble a working computer from parts you chose
- repurpose a retired device into a working server
- produce a parts list you can actually source
- reproduce your environment on a machine that is not yours
How you show it. The declaration file, and the same program running on a second machine with no steps taken that are not in the file.
Join the Course
Pay what you can - accessible learning for all
The minimum is $25, it keeps out spam. Need a larger discount? Apply for a scholarship. We offer 100% scholarships, no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Suggested price • Pay what you can
Secure payment via Stripe
No sponsored scholarship seats are open in this class yet.
What each price funds for someone else:
- $50 (Pay What You Can) · funds 1 scholarship seat
Instructor
Frequently Asked Questions
How are classes delivered?
All classes are live and online via video call. Sessions are recorded so you can review them later if you miss one.
What does "pay what you can" mean?
We show a suggested price, but you can pay any amount. If you need a larger discount, apply for a scholarship, we offer 100% scholarships and no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Do I need prior experience?
No code. The AI writes any code. You'll never touch a terminal.
What do I get when I enroll?
Live sessions with the instructor, access to course curriculum materials, community access via our Matrix chat server, and recordings of all sessions.
Want to schedule this course for your team?
Contact us: liz@themultiverse.school