Over the last few months, these DIY hardware communities have exploded in popularity as people on social media show off their solar-powered game emulators, pocket-sized ereaders, and clamshell purse computers.

The latest DIY craze is a portable computer inspired by a 1984 sci-fi novel. I built one with a Raspberry Pi. Here's why and how.

The women building these over-the-top, bedazzled cyberdecks aren’t in it for the glitter alone. This trend is reaching its peak at a time when people feel powerless against big…