Polish engineers surprise with modular Linux handheld device

A group of aspiring Polish engineers and developers are preparing a modular handheld device with the Linux operating system, called the Linux Platform Kit. The novelty is powered by the STM32MP157 system-on-chip from STMicroelectronics.

The founders describe themselves as “a small group who met by chance in the comments and came together with the idea of creating something useful and fun.” Their goal is not only to build hardware, but also to transfer knowledge through an open source project that offers a versatile tool for development and customization.

The core of the device is the STM32MP157 SoC, which combines two Arm Cortex‑A7 cores (up to 800 MHz), a Cortex‑M4 microcontroller (up to 209 MHz), and a 3D graphics processor.

The device also includes 4 GB of DDR3 system memory and a 10.4 cm (4.1-inch) ultra-wide display with a resolution of 1,080 × 480 pixels. Although it lacks cellular connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Storage can be expanded via a microSD card, while a multi-purpose external connector provides access to Ethernet, CAN, UART, RS485, I2C, I2S, SPI buses, timing outputs, and GPIO pins. A physical keyboard is also in development for those who do not want to use only the touchscreen.

The creators see the device as a tool for engineers, makers, and students, suitable for exploring Yocto or working directly with Debian. Details of the project are posted on Reddit, while the source code and hardware files are available on GitHub under various licenses.