UNIHIKER Terminal Cyberdeck - Mini Linux handheld Computer

My first intention when I got the UniHiker M10 board was simple: run ROS on it. I know, what you are thinking, but I do not want to buy expensive SBC :).And I really tried. I went deep tweaking dependencies, exploring builds, and pushing the system as far as it could go. But the reality quickly set in. With such constrained resources, it just wasn’t realistic.The limitations were clear:

• The UniHiker has very limited RAM
• It runs on Debian 10 (Buster), which is far from ideal for a modern ROS environment

After spending hours trying to make it work, I hit a wall.So instead of forcing the board into something it wasn’t meant to be, I asked a better question:

What is this device actually good at?

That’s when the idea shifted completely.

Rethinking the UniHiker

Rather than treating it as a computation platform, I reimagined the UniHiker as an interface, a tool to control more powerful systems rather than replace them.

This led to the concept of a portable cyberdeck-style terminal.A compact, self-contained device that:

• Boots directly into a custom terminal environment
• Connects to Wi-Fi automatically
• Acts as a dedicated SSH control station
• Provides real-time system monitoring and interaction

Stripping It Down to the Essentials

The default GUI environment, while useful, felt heavy and unnecessary for this purpose. So I stripped the system down and rebuilt the experience from the ground up.The focus was on efficiency, clarity, and responsiveness:

• Faster boot times by disabling unnecessary services
• Lower memory usage by removing GUI overhead
• A clean, hacker-style interface tailored for terminal workflows
• Seamless switching between local control and remote SSH sessions

The Final Result

What emerged is something far more interesting than the original goalThe UniHiker is now a dedicated cyberdeck terminal a tiny, purpose-built Linux machine with a distinctive visual identity and a focused role.It’s no longer trying to be a powerful computer.Instead, it excels at being a gateway to one.With its compact form factor, customized interface, and optimized performance, it feels less like a development board and more like a tool you’d actually carry and use. SSH in to other SBC, and other computers. I use it for booting up my Mobile robot which runs ROS on raspberry pi.

Features

Fast Terminal Boot

The system is optimized to boot directly into a lightweight terminal environment instead of a full graphical desktop.By disabling unnecessary services and background processes, startup time is significantly reduced, allowing the device to become usable almost immediately after power-on.

GUI Toggle

The system includes a simple command that allows switching between terminal mode and the graphical desktop environment.This provides flexibility:

• Use the terminal for speed and efficiency
• Enable the GUI only when needed for visual tasks

SSH Control Station

The UniHiker acts as a portable interface for controlling more powerful machines over SSH.Instead of running heavy applications locally, it connects to a remote system and executes commands there, effectively extending its capabilities without requiring additional onboard resources.

Custom Terminal Themes

Different visual themes are applied depending on how the device is used:

• Local screen - high-contrast, cyber-deck style colors for visibility
• Remote SSH session - clean, standard terminal colors for compatibility

This improves usability while also giving the system a distinct visual identity.

Live Dashboard

A terminal-based dashboard built using tools like tmux provides real-time system monitoring.It splits the screen into multiple panels displaying:

• System information
• Running processes
• Network activity
• Logs

This creates a lightweight alternative to a graphical system monitor while maintaining full performance efficiency.

3D CADModel

print the 3D model and assembling is straight forward you place the 2.4G Wireless Keyboard (it is by the way 7 color Backlight Touchpad Mouse with flashlight) in base. Then fit the Unihiker in the top frame with the two M3 screws attached to the base. The top orange circular knobe is for pushing the power button of the unihiker, it is a snap fit. The other rectangular brick goes in the side of the deck to cover the IO pins for dust protection and makes everything look rugged looking.

Software Config

Update the Unihiker system first:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install tmux htop bmon

Clone repo:

git clone https://github.com/yourname/unihiker-cyberdeck
cd unihiker-cyberdeck

Run setup:

sudo chmod +x scripts/a2r3
./scripts/a2r3

To Toggle between GUI and Terminal run:

gui-toggle

To Launch dashboard run:

deck_dashboard