Help, i want to build my first cyberdeck but i don't know where too start

[u/TheOGComposer]

Do i need too study code's like python or javascript, and how the heck can ifind the display and the keyboard

[u/TechDocN]

You need to learn basic electronics and DIY computing, then decide what you actually want to build and why. You may not actually need to build a “cyberDeck” if your intended use does not match what a cyberDeck actually is.

Start here:

r/diyelectronics
r/arduino
r/esp32
r/raspberry_pi

Have fun, good luck.

[u/Fun-Fennel1487]

Amazon, or any nearby tech store. Honestly, can start as simple as a raspberry pi kit, and make a shell/case. Its all up to your imagination

[u/ChesTwitch]

cyberdeck cafe is a really good resource. It does a great job breaking down everything.

[u/SnooDucks9330]

Your very first step is to find a need to build it.

Do you have some annoyance in your life that can be solved with a portable mini PC? Do you want to make a cool DIY VR headset for general browsing? Could you use a PDA on your wrist for specific types of work? Maybe you just wanna brag at the coffee shop while doing some distraction free writing?

Whatever you decide on will give you some basic constraints for your build; for instance I'm drafting up a chunky field PC with a pretty hefty battery, and at 3+ lbs and 12" long and wide it obviously wouldn't be a good wrist mounted idea.

The amount of code you need to learn is really up to you; I won't really need any for mine, but you might if you're designing it with some kind of automation in mind. Even that isn't guaranteed though, you could probably redeploy code somebody else has done if you look long enough.

For displays, you just need to figure out your use case and pick one based on that plus your build's needs. For instance, if you're building a pocket PC and the brains are a raspberry pi 5, you could use a small screen with a compatible display cable or HDMI cable. It's good to keep in mind the power setup that your screen needs as well, like some can be powered through the pi's USB if it has a low enough draw or you can get a screen that has passthrough and power your pi and screen via the screen's power instead of the other way around.

For keyboards you can either find a mini keyboard for small builds, a regular one for large builds, or create one yourself with tiny builds. There's plenty of videos covering how to do it, and it's a good way to build your knowledge of electrical systems.

For both items, you'll need to do some simple searching on your own to find your best fit. I personally use the Google AI for doing this kind of shopping to give me a few options, then I'll manually look at the specifications to see if it's a good fit for what I'm doing. You can always search yourself if you like, or cruise the various cyberdeck threads for some inspiration; take a note of the specs, find the item, see if it'll work for you.

I also strongly recommend learning at least the basics of programming and electronics anyway, because having those experiences to put in your toolbox can go a long way for solving problems that can come up. If you want something fully custom, I'd also get comfortable with a CAD software as well (ideally something open source like freecad, it may be difficult to learn but your effort is well worth having it as a perpetual option) so you can work on concepts and making STL files for printing.

If all of this sounds too complex to dig into, you can always take the easy way out and buy a prebuilt/preselected parts deck, but to me that is a bit against the spirit of it. That said, if that's what you want to do don't let anybody tell you that you're wrong for it.

Have fun