This Plywood Computer Does One Thing: Write

The Cyber Writer—our dedicated, writing-only machine—has been a great addition to my workflow lately. And today I published a new video where I go over all the details about this build: Why make a machine like this? How did we design and build it? What are the components like? What’s the software experience? And most importantly—what’s it like to actually work on?

In addition, I've also made a building plan with all the design .svg and .pdf files if anyone else wanted to build their own plywood computer case. We designed it to hold a raspberry pi zero, however there's plenty of room in there so it can be used for many different things.

So in short, what's this dedicated writing machine all about?

I’ve noticed that when I sit down at the Cyber Writer, something shifts. I’m not checking messages. I’m not opening a dozen tabs “for research.” I’m writing. The blank screen feels like an invitation—not a challenge. And the fact that there’s nothing else to do on it? That’s the point.

And for something we built ourselves from laser-cut plywood and a Raspberry Pi, it’s surprisingly immersive. The keyboard is tactile and satisfying. The display is crisp but never harsh. And the custom writing software is delightfully boring—in the best way possible. It does exactly what it needs to, and nothing else.

If you’re curious about the details, check out the video—I show everything from the guts of the machine to how the writing interface works, and talk a bit about what inspired me to make it in the first place.