NovaLabs
We build the OS — and the hardware to run it.
An independent hardware & software lab. Home of RPCortex, a real operating system for microcontrollers, and the Nova D1, a build-it-yourself multi-tool that runs it.
What we build
RPCortex
A full, multitasking operating system written in MicroPython — a real shell with pipes and scripting, user accounts, a package manager, WiFi, and over-the-air updates, all running in 264 KB of RAM. Source-available.
rpc.novalabs.appNova D1
A DIY cybersecurity & networking multi-tool — a ~$40, build-it-yourself alternative to the Flipper Zero, powered by RPCortex. Off-the-shelf parts, a 3D-printed shell, no custom PCB.
Learn moreytdl-UI
Pull video or audio from almost anywhere, privately — no ads, no tracking, no accounts. A clean front-end for grabbing the content you want.
yt.novalabs.appThe Nova D1
A pocket multi-tool for security research, RF tinkering, and hardware exploration — built entirely from off-the-shelf modules in a 3D-printed shell, for around $40. No custom PCB, no factory, no $200 price tag.
The Nova D1 doesn't run rigid, single-purpose firmware. It boots RPCortex Vela — a genuine multitasking OS — and layers a Nova wrapper on top: it auto-installs as a package, flips on autonomy mode (no login), detects the display and hardware, and boots straight into the Nova GUI with its background services running. Over-the-air updates keep it current as RPCortex grows.
Fully buildable from open parts and 3D-printed files: source the modules, print the case, flash RPCortex, install the Nova D1 package. Suggestions, hardware mods, and feature requests are welcome.
About NovaLabs
NovaLabs is an independent hardware and software lab — founded and run by dash. It started as a 3D-printed homelab and a simple curiosity: how far can a $4 microcontroller really go?
The answer became RPCortex, a real operating system for tiny chips. The Nova D1 is where that software meets hardware you can build yourself. Everything here is made to be accessible — low-cost, hackable, and yours to take apart.
More projects under the NovaLabs roof are on the way.