A hardware hacker known as [cc] (bossbratox) has unveiled a cyberdeck built inside a pink seashell-shaped clutch purse—challenging the traditional masculine aesthetic of DIY portable computers. The device, dubbed 'Mermaid in the Shell,' boasts a full terminal, local LLM chatbot, digital pet, and more, all powered by a Raspberry Pi 3A+.
The build started with a frame clutch purse that features ready-made hinges and latches. The shell-like design, often found in pink at thrift stores, was the perfect canvas for a computer that 'oozes distilled femme energy,' according to its creator.
'I wanted to show that a cyberdeck can be just as powerful and functional while being unapologetically girly,' said [cc] in a project write-up.
The Build
Inside the purse sits a Raspberry Pi 3A+ with 512 MB of RAM, paired with a white ZitaoTech BB Q10 keyboard and a 3.5-inch touchscreen. While the Pi 3A+ is often considered outdated for full desktop Linux, [cc] works within its constraints by running a custom terminal user interface (TUI).
The TUI provides WiFi, Bluetooth, a full terminal, a remote serial monitor, a local LLM chatbot, a PDF reader, a text editor, and—playfully—a mermaid digital pet. The pet is user-skinnable; enthusiasts can grab the code from GitHub and swap sprites for any character they like.
Background
Cyberdeck culture has long been dominated by rugged, military-inspired designs—often black, grey, or camo. This build breaks that mold by embracing a kawaii, girly aesthetic without sacrificing functionality. The use of a clutch purse as a case is a clever hack that leverages existing hardware (hinges, latches) and reduces fabrication time.
The Raspberry Pi 3A+ may be old, but for lightweight TUI applications and non-GUI tasks, 512 MB of RAM remains sufficient. The project demonstrates that recycling older hardware can still yield satisfying results when paired with efficient software.
What This Means
This build challenges assumptions about what a 'serious' computer looks like. It opens the door for more diverse aesthetics in the maker community, especially for those who feel alienated by the prevailing 'tacticool' vibe. The project also highlights how aesthetic choices can be functional—the purse case offers portability and protection while making a fashion statement.
For DIY enthusiasts, the message is clear: your computer can be whatever you want it to be, inside and out. Whether you prefer good-looking PCBs in pink or a utilitarian design, the only limit is creativity.
- GitHub Repository for Mermaid Pet: https://github.com/bossbratox/mermaid-pet
- Tips for Aesthetic PCBs: Read our guide on designing attractive circuit boards
Have a project that drips femme-ergy, kawaii, or just plain cool? Send us a tip—we want to feature more builds that break the mold.