About

What is OpenWrt?

OpenWrt is a highly extensible GNU/Linux distribution for embedded devices — typically wireless routers, but also access points, smart-home gateways, and small servers. Unlike vendor firmware, OpenWrt provides a fully writable filesystem with optional package management, allowing complete customization of the device.

The platform also gives developers a base to build applications on top of without having to produce an entire firmware distribution from scratch, while users get the freedom to configure devices in ways manufacturers never intended.

A reboot of the OpenWrt community

In 2016, the LEDE project (Linux Embedded Development Environment) was founded as a spinoff of OpenWrt with similar goals. Many active OpenWrt community members joined LEDE to address longstanding issues:

• Declining numbers of active core developers
• Unreliable infrastructure with single points of failure
• Poor communication and transparency
• Insufficient patch review capacity
• Weak focus on stability and documentation

LEDE introduced structural changes including public communication channels, more open decision-making with developer and user voting, simplified infrastructure, liberal merge policies, and automated testing.

The OpenWrt/LEDE merge

In January 2018, both projects reunified under the OpenWrt name. The unified OpenWrt project is governed under the rules established by the former LEDE project.

The merged project uses LEDE’s codebase with compatible OpenWrt patches integrated. Code repositories are hosted at git.openwrt.org with mirrors on GitHub. The organization is a member of the Software Freedom Conservancy, a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Name

OpenWrt’s name derives from early wireless router firmware development, particularly the White Russian releases for Linksys WRT54G routers. LEDE stood for Linux Embedded Development Environment, reflecting its embedded buildroot origins and flexibility.

Project members

OpenWrt’s active members hold commit access to the project’s repositories and participate in formal votes on project matters. New members are added by formal vote.

41 active members: