AX.25 on Linux/Developing user-space tools: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 19:55, 2 May 2026

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 It is not yet complete, and it may contain inaccuracies or outdated information.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 looking at. This is not an exhaustive list.

Project	Project page or repo	Technical scope	Why it might be worth looking at
LinBPQ, BPQ32	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	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	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	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	project page	Modem/TNC functions, KISS, AGWPE	Another example of a user-space software-TNC design exposing standard host interfaces
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	GitHub	Messaging application, AX.25 support, AGWPE	Useful example of integrating AX.25 support into a modern end-user application
aprx	project page	APRS application, iGate and digipeater functions	Reference for a focused application that avoids general-purpose kernel AX.25 dependencies
YAAC	project page	APRS application and related tooling	Example of an application-layer design that works through external TNC interfaces

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 ''Main article: [[AX.25 on Linux]]''
-This section is primarily relevant to developers or those evaluating new work in the packet-radio ecosystem.
+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.
-AX.25 may be considered active enough to justify new user-space implementations. 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:
+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
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 * 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 looking at. This is not an exhaustive list.
 {| class="wikitable sortable"
@@ Line 19: / Line 21: @@
 ! Project page or repo
 ! Technical scope
-! Why inspect it
+! Why it might be worth looking at
 |-
 | LinBPQ, BPQ32