openwrt/README.md
Paul Spooren 13cae3cdce
README: add download section
The *Firmware Selector* was built to simplify users finding suitable
images for their devices. Let's give it more visibility so unleashing
your home router becomes an easier thing.

As an alternative for more advanced user, provide the directl link to
the wiki download section.

Signed-off-by: Paul Spooren <mail@aparcar.org>
[ fix typo in commit description, add link to Wiki download page ]
Signed-off-by: Christian Marangi <ansuelsmth@gmail.com>
2022-10-06 16:08:24 +02:00

109 lines
4.2 KiB
Markdown

![OpenWrt logo](include/logo.png)
OpenWrt Project is a Linux operating system targeting embedded devices. Instead
of trying to create a single, static firmware, OpenWrt provides a fully
writable filesystem with package management. This frees you from the
application selection and configuration provided by the vendor and allows you
to customize the device through the use of packages to suit any application.
For developers, OpenWrt is the framework to build an application without having
to build a complete firmware around it; for users this means the ability for
full customization, to use the device in ways never envisioned.
Sunshine!
## Download
Built firmware images are available for many architectures and come with a
package selection to be used as WiFi home router. To quickly find a factory
image usable to migrate from a vendor stock firmware to OpenWrt, try the
*Firmware Selector*.
* [OpenWrt Firmware Selector](https://firmware-selector.openwrt.org/)
If your device is supported, please follow the **Info** link to see install
instructions or consult the support resources listed below.
##
An advanced user may require additional or specific package. (Toolchain, SDK, ...) For everything else than simple firmware download, try the wiki download page:
* [OpenWrt Wiki Download](https://openwrt.org/downloads)
## Development
To build your own firmware you need a GNU/Linux, BSD or MacOSX system (case
sensitive filesystem required). Cygwin is unsupported because of the lack of a
case sensitive file system.
### Requirements
You need the following tools to compile OpenWrt, the package names vary between
distributions. A complete list with distribution specific packages is found in
the [Build System Setup](https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-developer/build-system/install-buildsystem)
documentation.
```
binutils bzip2 diff find flex gawk gcc-6+ getopt grep install libc-dev libz-dev
make4.1+ perl python3.6+ rsync subversion unzip which
```
### Quickstart
1. Run `./scripts/feeds update -a` to obtain all the latest package definitions
defined in feeds.conf / feeds.conf.default
2. Run `./scripts/feeds install -a` to install symlinks for all obtained
packages into package/feeds/
3. Run `make menuconfig` to select your preferred configuration for the
toolchain, target system & firmware packages.
4. Run `make` to build your firmware. This will download all sources, build the
cross-compile toolchain and then cross-compile the GNU/Linux kernel & all chosen
applications for your target system.
### Related Repositories
The main repository uses multiple sub-repositories to manage packages of
different categories. All packages are installed via the OpenWrt package
manager called `opkg`. If you're looking to develop the web interface or port
packages to OpenWrt, please find the fitting repository below.
* [LuCI Web Interface](https://github.com/openwrt/luci): Modern and modular
interface to control the device via a web browser.
* [OpenWrt Packages](https://github.com/openwrt/packages): Community repository
of ported packages.
* [OpenWrt Routing](https://github.com/openwrt/routing): Packages specifically
focused on (mesh) routing.
* [OpenWrt Video](https://github.com/openwrt/video): Packages specifically
focused on display servers and clients (Xorg and Wayland).
## Support Information
For a list of supported devices see the [OpenWrt Hardware Database](https://openwrt.org/supported_devices)
### Documentation
* [Quick Start Guide](https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-quick-start/start)
* [User Guide](https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/start)
* [Developer Documentation](https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-developer/start)
* [Technical Reference](https://openwrt.org/docs/techref/start)
### Support Community
* [Forum](https://forum.openwrt.org): For usage, projects, discussions and hardware advise.
* [Support Chat](https://webchat.oftc.net/#openwrt): Channel `#openwrt` on **oftc.net**.
### Developer Community
* [Bug Reports](https://bugs.openwrt.org): Report bugs in OpenWrt
* [Dev Mailing List](https://lists.openwrt.org/mailman/listinfo/openwrt-devel): Send patches
* [Dev Chat](https://webchat.oftc.net/#openwrt-devel): Channel `#openwrt-devel` on **oftc.net**.
## License
OpenWrt is licensed under GPL-2.0