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 It is not yet complete, and it may contain inaccuracies or outdated information.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
This section is primarily relevant to developers or those evaluating new work in the packet-radio ecosystem.
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:
- 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
| Project | Project page or repo | Technical scope | Why inspect it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |