One-Day Intensive
Build a Cyberdeck
11.07.26 | 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM PST 4 hours in one focused day
Build a machine to get you out of Palantir's grasp -- no coding required.
with Liz Howard
Overview
Big Tech rents you your own digital life. This hands-on build day gets you out from under it: you'll assemble a cyberdeck -- a pocket-sized Linux computer you fully own -- from a cheap single-board computer (or an old phone gathering dust), a touchscreen, storage, and an all-day battery, in a case rugged enough to go anywhere. No coding or Linux experience required; we walk through every step, from flashing the OS to first boot. Along the way you'll learn what it actually takes to own your compute -- off the cloud, off the surveillance grid -- and how to push it further with off-grid mesh networking, satellite comms, and local AI. Build a machine to get you out of Palantir's grasp.
What You'll Master
- Build a pocket Linux computer that's genuinely yours
- Flash a real OS onto a cheap board, or resurrect a phone from your drawer
- Wire up screen, storage, and all-day power into a rugged deck
- Get out of Palantir's grasp: own your compute, off the surveillance grid
- Optional: go off-grid with LoRa mesh and satellite comms
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 Us
One-Day Intensive
- Your seat in the class
- Lifetime access to materials
- Sponsors 1 scholarship seat for someone else
The minimum is $50, it keeps out spam. Need to pay less? Apply for a scholarship, no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Secure payment via Stripe
One-Day Intensive
- Your seat in the class
- Lifetime access to materials
- Sponsors 6 scholarship seats for someone else
The minimum is $350, it keeps out spam. Need to pay less? Apply for a scholarship, no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Secure payment via Stripe
One-Day Intensive
- Your seat in the class
- Lifetime access to materials
- Sponsors 14 scholarship seats for someone else
The minimum is $750, it keeps out spam. Need to pay less? Apply for a scholarship, no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Secure payment via Stripe
1 scholarship seat available. Not enrolling, but want to put someone through this class?
Instructor
Want to schedule this class for your team?
Contact us: liz@themultiverse.school