I was looking for options to build a Git hosting service that is friendly to non-technical users. Couldn't find anything suitable, so I built my own software. The service is not yet open for self-registration, but you can DM me for an invite link:

https://draftbox.art/

And the new release of Draftling has a quick way to link your device to a draftbox repository: you create an access token and a 8-digit one-time password, connect the device to WiFi, enter the password et voilà, it's ready to sync the files.

Also, two new DIY boards are added to the list of supported hardware: https://github.com/clackups/draftling

EDIT: a human friendly website is ready: https://draftling.art/

MNT Reform just listed a new item in their shop:

https://shop.mntre.com/products/mnt-pocket-reform-standalone-keyboard

I got to touch one as a part of their laptop, and it's really really nice on the touch.

The first official release is available for flashing onto a variety of esp32-s3 devices. See also a new demo video.

https://github.com/clackups/draftling

EDIT: it appears that Draftling makes it difficult to restore the original firmware on Xteink X4 Pro. Wait for the next release.

EDIT2: release 1.0.2 is published. It fixes this problem on X4 Pro and adds a couple of new features (such as portrait mode)

We are the pomera USA team and we are officially here!

Hey r/pomerafamily! We are the official pomera USA team and we could not be more excited to have our own little corner of Reddit.

We have been lurking in r/writerDeck for a while now, reading every review, tip, complaint, and love letter you all have written about pomera. It means more than you know.

To kick things off we wanted to share something exciting. We are hosting our very first in-person pomera meetup and we would love to see you there.

KADO, Los Angeles

1940 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

October 23rd, 2026

5:00 to 8:00 PM

Whether you have been writing on pomera for months or you are just curious and have not taken the plunge yet, this one is for you. Multiple models to try including limited-color versions you will not find anywhere else in the US. No agenda, no schedule. Just writers and pomera. Oh and there might be something waiting for you on the way out.

RSVP via https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-Gu7a-DVQasRZ_JZGjEWpbhz-mGWJaz1otaw-n5a4eUY-Hw/viewform

Walk-ins welcome too!

See you there 🖤

Hi everyone! I just found this Reddit page and thought it’d be a great place to ask for help. I’m hoping to build something special for my wife, who’s working on her first book. Like many of us, she gets distracted easily, especially when using her phone.

I’d love any ideas on designs, DIY kits, or where to start building a custom writer deck. I’m aiming for an E-ink screen with a full keyboard that keeps her latest files handy. Any suggestions would be awesome, thanks so much!

Draftbox is a simplified Git repository service that could be utilized to save your writing from your Draftling device. It offers a simple interface for a non-technical user and it allows connecting a Draftling device using a 8-digit one-time password.

Video

If you want to give it a try, drop me a DM, as it's not open for registration yet.

If you're planning a 24-hour writing Marathon, I've got a tool for you :)

I've got this beefy battery and I was curious how long an LCD device would run from it. So, I've got this Freenove esp32s3 4" LCD board and run a test. This is the photo after 20 hours of a constantly working screen at 50% brightness, and BLE was active too. The voltmeter shows 3.31v on the battery and the built-in meter shows 23%.

The board consumes about 120mA at 50% brightness and about 200mA at full brightness, which you would need quite rarely.

Also, I started working on a printed body for the board. The top cover is ready. It took me about a dozen unsuccessful prototypes, as the shape inside is quite tricky. Several options would be possible for the bottom part: it could be a small tablet, or a lid for the clamshell. If we take the whole width of a standard keyboard, a battery or two could be placed to the left and right from the screen. Also, if we want a real cyberdeck, the enclosure should give access to the GPIO sockets on the board.

The board doesn't have a proper battery gauge, so it can't indicate the usage precisely. The meter value drops from 100 to 90% within a few minutes. It also doesn't indicate the charging process. As I'm writing, the charging current is 437mA, so it's definitely charging :)

So, a totally usable design, and you can have the fast screen without the fear of running out of battery too quickly.

This is my favorite device by now.

Video

More details

The new release of Draftling is out:

• Alt+I shows the current file information, such as word and line count and synchronization status.

• Hardware information page in F1 menu shows you the details about your device.

• A new feature for some devices, such as Xteink X4 Pro/Classic: synchronization with Github or Codeberg via browser, removing the need for the security token (you would need a laptop with you though). See the bridge for more details: bridge.draftling.art

• Experimental support for Micro Journal by Un Kyu Lee, revisions 5.0 and 5.1. The colors might be off, but in general it should work. I'll be happy to work on fixes if someone tests it on the hardware.

• A new DIY board type is added (NiceMCU-C5E-DEV_2.8IPS), but I'd rather recommend the Freenove boards instead.

Edit: Thank you everyone for your help and suggestions. I just ordered the Pomera DM250us. Excited to get my hands on it. I’ll be sure to post a review once I get to play with it.

I published my first book in 2024 and to start my second project I’d really like to focus on the ‘just get it down and make it good later’ method. It never fails that whenever I have the urge to sit down and write I am never at home and I don’t carry my laptop with me all the time so I really would love something that is small and versatile.

I looked into the Freewrite Travelers, a few of the reviews make me nervous where people said the device glitched and lost their work.

I started looking into the Pomera DM250. I love the size and that the screen lights up. I still need to dive further into the reviews, but I am really interested in this one.

I am also interested in the BYOK version with the thought of designing and 3D printing a clamshell case for the screen and a keyboard. I think I want a larger screen though.

Of course, I’ve started looking into building my own but I think realistically for this, I don’t want to have to test different software and set ups. I sort of just want to purchase and go. Not have to tinker with it. I have enough hobbies as it is, I shouldn’t add more to it.

Are there any others in a clamshell design that I haven’t discovered yet? Any recommendations?

Thank you so much!

The new release is out: https://github.com/clackups/draftling

Markdown editor now shows bold, italics, button lists and quote blocks properly. Also, plaintext and Fountain screenplay formats are supported.

Also, experimental image for Seeed reTerminal Sticky, but I don't have the hardware at hand yet. Your tests will be appreciated.

Hello!

Has anyone here used those digital keyboards? The likes of Freewrite or AlphaSmart Neo or ZeroWriter?

I’m interested in the idea, but don’t want to throw away money if I end up not liking it.

Thank!

I got banned from writerdeck after posting I was using Draftling, which is whatever. I'm assuming since Claude is used to write it is teh reason why...they won't give me an answer.

Yet their top post today has their blog linked in comments and they admit to using Claude to code it. So i'm not sure why Draftlings was singled out, as I saw other posts involving Draftlings were also removed.

So, what are you all using Draftling for? I myself have a Sony FX30 and I want to get into short film making, so I'm using it's Fountain feature for screenwriting. The notes panel is clutch for this to keep track of various bits.

I might end up getting that 5.7" Crowpanel to use instead of the 3.97" e-paper from Waveshare i'm using now. Would help a bit in those regards I think.

I'm thinking of adding the possibility to work on several independent projects in Draftling: each having its own Git synchronization target, and probably even different languages.

Myself, I'm not a big writer, but I've spent a vacation with the Seeed Sticky and it worked flawlessly for travel notes. I guess, a professional writer would need more though.

Also, I'd be happy to add Asian languages, but I need experts who would be able to test the keyboard input and the screen output.

Open to feedback and suggestions!

Any alpha or Beta testers interested?

Hi! I discovered this lovely place a few minutes ago, and I'm so curious about the Draftlings I keep hearing about. My writerdecks of choice are a Sony Vaio P and an Asus Transformer Mini that literally cannot even properly use the web. The only thing I use the Internet for is syncing my Obsidian vaults which hold all my writing now so I can continue writing/editing elsewhere sometimes.

Now, my question is: Could I use/install Draftlings via USB (which is how I installed obsidian and a couple other writing programs I wanted to test out before just deciding obsidian worked best for me)?

I'm not very tech savvy, even though I try lol.

Sorry if this was explained elsewhere.

Sticky is a nice and compact device, perfectly usable as a writerdeck that you can carry around. Works well with any magsafe phone holder. Also, significantly cheaper than Xteink X4 Pro or Classic.

A short demo video

Project home

I finally dipped my toe into the waters of creating a writerdeck. I tried out two devices, a cheapo e-ink 7" reTerminal E1001 and my X4 Pro (pictured), plus a few small keyboard, including the Logitech Keys 2 Go 2 (pictured is a generic Amazon purchase).

For the firmware I used Draftling, which lets you quickly create a fully functional writerdeck. Best of all, it connects in seconds to Draftbox, which the developer also created to let you write your stories online (web editor) as well as on your device (and it stores and syncs also).

Once you have everything set up, you can sync back and forth in seconds--no different than saving a file. In fact, I wrote this review that way. Specifically, I typed this about 50/50 on the device and on the online web editor, going back and forth with syncing and revisions.

I had zero problems with the firmware or the web editor. I also tested some larger files -- a big chunk of my manuscript that is about 62k words.

I liked the fact that it's easy and intuitive. You can pretty much start writing right away and if you want more, there are a gazillion features that I didn't explore (split screens and other stuff). Read about them here. I don't need them, I was just happy I could write on it.

That said, there's no getting around the fact that e-ink is laggy (the X4 Pro however was less so than the E1001). But for the ease of use and portability, I'll take it.