Designed by Hartmut Graw, the LispDeck is a Handheld Lisp computer built around the Teensy 4.1 microcontroller for Lisp programming on the go. It features a dual-screen setup with a 5-inch touchscreen and, a secondary ST77350-based TFT display. It also has an Adafruit RFM96 radio module, an ESP8266 Wi-Fi module, a rotary encoder, an SD card for storage, and a detachable wireless USB keyboard, all housed in a 3D-printed case.
Running the uLisp language, it features a standalone Lisp programming environment without needing a PC or tablet. It is an evolution of the LispBox, with a portable and battery-powered design, which also maintains compatibility. Unlike Raspberry Pi-based cyberdecks, the LispDeck is designed for complete control over the system without the complexity of Linux. It is useful for Lisp enthusiasts who want a compact, dedicated computing device that’s fully documented.
LispDeck Specifications
- SoC – NXP i.MX RT1062 via Teensy 4.1 board
- CPU – Arm Cortex-M7 @ 600 MHz
- Memory – 1MB SRAM including 512KB tightly coupled memory (TCM)
- Storage – MicroSD card slot for program and data storage
- Displays
- Primary – 5” touchscreen (Adafruit RA8875 controller)
- Secondary – 160×128 TFT (ST77350-based)
- Networking
- ESP8266 ESP-01S Wi-Fi module
- Adafruit RFM96 LoRa radio module
- USB – 2x USB Type-A ports
- Misc
- Full USB keyboard support (wireless USB keyboard compatible)
- Rotary encoder for navigation
- GPIO for hardware expansion
- Power – Battery-powered for portability
- Dimensions – Not mentioned
- Encloser – 3D-printed housing
Specified in 1958, Lisp is one of the oldest programming languages and is less common today. However, you can explore it using the Visible Lisp Computer, a uLisp-based interpreter for Arm that displays the Lisp workspace on an OLED screen, and which we previously covered when it was shown to run on an Adafruit ItsyBitsy M0 board with an OLED display.
This Handheld Lisp computer runs uLisp, a lightweight Lisp interpreter designed for microcontrollers, which allows direct programming on the device without a PC. It features a built-in REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop) for interactive coding, a fullscreen text editor for writing and saving scripts to an SD card, and support for hardware interaction via GPIO. The device boots instantly into the Lisp environment. Networking is accessed with an ESP8266 Wi-Fi module, while an RFM96 LoRa radio module provides additional communication options, and might even make the computer suitable as Meshtastic client.
We have also written about other portable terminals in the past, including the ESP32-P4-powered Tanmatsu handheld terminal with a 3.97-inch MIPI DSI display and more, a NanoPi Neo Air-based handheld computer running DietPi with a Linux terminal, and the list goes on.
More information about the Handheld Lisp computer can be found on Hackaday.io, with source code and 3D-print files available on the LispBox GitHub under the MIT license. It’s not available for sale, so the only option is to build it by yourself for now.
Via Hackster.io
Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication
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