View source for AX.25 on Linux/Developing user-space tools

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Developing user-space tools}}

{{Note|This page is a work in progress. It is not yet complete, and it may contain inaccuracies or outdated information.}}

''Main article: [[AX.25 on Linux]]''

Following the removal of AX.25 from the Linux kernel, there is an opportunity for new user-space tools to fill the gap for various AX.25 use cases. Many of the building blocks already exist in open source. 

Before starting a brand-new user-space AX.25 project, it might be worth looking first at software that already does some or all of the following:

* Modem/TNC functions
* AX.25 framing
* KISS or AGWPE host-side interfaces
* APRS, BBS, node, or messaging applications
* Integration with modern Linux networking through user-space boundaries like TUN/TAP

Here are some open-source projects that might be worth inspecting. This is not an exhaustive list.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Project
! Project page or repo
! Technical scope
! Why inspect it
|-
| LinBPQ, BPQ32
| [https://www.cantab.net/users/john.wiseman/Documents/LinBPQBuild.html project page]
| AX.25 stack, node/BBS and APRS applications, KISS, multi-interface and IP integration
| Reference for a broad all-in-one user-space packet-radio environment
|-
| JNOS 2
| [https://www.langelaar.net/projects/jnos2/ project page]
| AX.25 stack, node/BBS, APRS, and messaging applications, KISS, AXIP, AXUDP
| Reference for structuring a nearly complete packet-radio stack in user space
|-
| Dire Wolf
| [https://github.com/wb2osz/direwolf GitHub]
| Modem/TNC functions, AX.25 framing, KISS, AGWPE, APRS tooling
| Clear reference for a maintained user-space TNC and host-side interface layer
|-
| Xastir SoundModem
| [https://github.com/Xastir/SoundModem GitHub]
| Modem/TNC functions; serial KISS or Linux AX.25 integration
| Reference for an older Linux soundmodem design that can operate either through serial KISS or kernel AX.25
|-
| QtSoundModem
| [https://www.cantab.net/users/john.wiseman/Documents/QtSoundModem.html project page]
| Modem/TNC functions, KISS, AGWPE
| Another example of a user-space software-TNC design exposing standard host interfaces
|-
| tncattach
| [https://github.com/markqvist/tncattach GitHub]
| KISS-based Linux network-device integration for IP and Ethernet-style networking
| Reference for bridging a KISS TNC to a Linux network device without the old AX.25 kernel stack
|-
| Pat
| [https://github.com/la5nta/pat GitHub]
| Messaging application, AX.25 support, AGWPE
| Useful example of integrating AX.25 support into a modern end-user application
|-
| aprx
| [https://thelifeofkenneth.com/aprx/ project page]
| APRS application, iGate and digipeater functions
| Reference for a focused application that avoids general-purpose kernel AX.25 dependencies
|-
| YAAC
| [https://sourceforge.net/projects/yetanotheraprsc/ project page]
| APRS application and related tooling
| Example of an application-layer design that works through external TNC interfaces
|}

[[Category:Explanation]]
[[Category:Infrastructure]]