A Pocket Terminal for Electronics Projects

Tech companies may have settled into a standard design for laptop and desktop computers with their black and gray rectangles, but techies aren’t so attached to this aesthetic. Whether the reason is to inject some personality into their computing experience or to bring something from science fiction to life, they like to experiment. Sometimes these hardware rebels buy components from indie makers, and sometimes they hack together their own cyberdecks, but the result is always a unique, highly personalized machine.

It doesn’t have to require a huge effort to build your own personalized computer, as Hacktuber recently demonstrated. Using just a few cheap parts and a hacked-together operating system, he built a handheld computer that doubles as a tool that can assist you with your electronics projects.

At the core of this interesting build is a cheap yellow display — specifically an ESP32-powered development board with a 2.8-inch 240×320 touchscreen display. That’s technically all you need to make it work, but Hacktuber went the extra mile to make it durable and portable by adding a back panel and a 1,200 mAh LiPo battery. There’s also a large power switch so you don’t have to fumble around unplugging the battery when you’re done.

The resulting gadget looks like a stripped-down cyberdeck crossed with a retro PDA, but its real appeal comes from the custom software running on the ESP32. Instead of booting into a traditional graphical interface, the handheld launches directly into a minimalist command-line operating system complete with an on-screen keyboard and touch controls. From there, users can enter simple text commands to interact directly with the board’s hardware features.

Some commands are purely for fun, like a “Matrix” mode that fills the screen with cascading green text inspired by the famous movie franchise. Others are more practical. A Wi-Fi utility scans nearby networks and connects the handheld to the internet, while a clock command synchronizes time with NTP servers to turn the tiny machine into a network-connected desk clock.

The most useful tools, though, are aimed squarely at electronics hobbyists. A built-in timer utility can automate GPIO pins, allowing the handheld to switch LEDs or external circuits on and off at scheduled times. Another command gives direct manual control over the ESP32’s digital pins, making it possible to toggle connected hardware without writing additional firmware. In the demonstration, Hacktuber uses these commands to manipulate the board’s onboard RGB LED.

Because the ESP32 is capable of wireless networking, the computer can also double as a miniature web server. Typing the device’s IP address into a browser opens a remote control page where commands and messages can be sent wirelessly to the handheld.

For a project built from inexpensive parts and a few creative modifications, this handheld computer manages to feel fairly polished — and far more interesting than another anonymous gray rectangle.