CrashDeck
Someone over on /r/cyberdeck, someone suggested the idea of a “CrashDeck”: a deck made using only materials you already have on hand, in one hour or less. I’ve been thinking over a build for a few months now, spending too much time on the same parts of the thinking, over and over again, without really getting any farther. I think this framing might be exactly what I need to get a first rough draft out, see what it feels like, And figure out what might make sense for a build with a little bit more time.
I have also, unrelatedly, been increasingly missing having a proper Plan 9 machine I can use on the couch.
Oh, and this is also a good way to start clearing things off my desk, which has been a total wreck for months.
I dropped my kid off at camp this morning, and I don’t have anything super urgent today (although certainly things I really ought to be doing instead), so I’m going to set aside some time to do it.
Considerations and objectives for my build: - I have a couple extra Raspberry Pi that aren’t currently being used for anything; at least one 4 and three Zero of various vintage. - I also have some screens I had previously purchased from Waveshare and used in some experiments that are now sitting idle. - It will be running Plan 9. I have my local installation a little bit of a mess, so to keep things safe and avoid blowing through the hour, I’m going to download a fresh copy of the 9legacy Raspberry Pi image and load a few things on after. - The “rules” of the project say that everything should be attached and you should be able to pick it up with one hand. I have a couple options for pointing devices, but I am likely to give myself some leeway here with a wireless mouse. - I don’t have anything resembling a 3-D printer, but I do have a wide variety of cardboard and some wood intended for models and crafts. That’s going to be the body.
Thinking about it on the drive home, a couple of things occurred to me. - A friend of mine came by to help with a house project some time ago, brought her table saw, and has left it here since. I can’t decide of setting it up is going to take more time than I’ll save by doing the small number of cuts I have in mind by hand, but I think I’m going to give it a shot. - The same friend is borrowing one of our cars for a few weeks starting two days ago, and I realized the rechargeable power brick I was planning to use for this is in that car. I don’t think I have another that has two USB ports on it, I’m not sure I can power the display I really wanted to use from the pi directly, and I’m not even sure I have another that reliably has enough power just for the Pi. Power is always the trickiest part with these builds. - I do actually have the parts for a more “proper” power solution that I purchased for the “real” (and perpetually in the future) version of this build, but I have never used them and I’m skeptical that trying to figure out how to do so now is the best use of time for this hour. Maybe at the end if everything else goes well. - I also have a Pi Sugar for a pi 4 and another for a Zero. The one for the Zero seems to be working properly, but the one for the 4 isn’t. I would rather use the 4 for this. - Depending on how things are going on time, I might still try my preferred display, but I also have a backup option that should work (it’s just a little smaller). That one would actually save some time, as that screen is already attached to a Pi. - I have screwed up the firmware on the keyboard I would most like to use. I have two second choice options, but I don’t like using either as much. I’m reminding myself this is a quick draft.
Also I just realized I’m very low on glue for my hot glue gun, which is my main plan for holding the frame together. I think my partner might have some at the right size in her craft cabinet.
I have done no more prep than walking around my workspace and making a pile on the couch with some likely candidate parts. I notably have not found my clamps or saws from the shed or set up the table saw. I’m going to try to take some pictures and quick notes as I go and edit this after.
:00:00
Go!