Due to frequently searching for OpenWrt source code during development, OpenWrt has undergone over a decade of development and has released many official versions, both large and small. In the process, LEDE was separated, and the choice of versions can leave many people confused, not knowing which version is suitable for them. Today, I will introduce the evolution of OpenWrt and LEDE as well as the key features of important versions.
1Relationship between OpenWrt and LEDE
OpenWrt is a completely open-source Linux operating system, allowing users to download and compile all source code. LEDE (Linux Embedded Development Environment) also evolved from OpenWrt, inheriting the OpenWrt 15.x source code. In January 2018, LEDE and OpenWrt officially announced their merger, with the merged project using the name OpenWrt.
2OpenWrt Versions
The OpenWrt project started in January 2004, with the first version based on the GPL source code provided by Linksys and the buildroot project in uclibc. This version is referred to as the “stable” version, and many projects on the internet still use this version, notably Freifunk-Firmware and Sip@Home.
By early 2005, some new developers joined the project, and a few months later, they released the first “experimental” version. Unlike previous versions, this version almost completely discarded Linksys’s GPL source code, using buildroot2 as its core technology, making OpenWrt fully modular. OpenWrt used the officially released Linux kernel source code (2.4.30), added some patches and network drivers, and the development team added many free tools to directly write the image into Flash (mtd), configure wireless features, and VLAN switching. This version was named “White Russian,” with version 1.0 announced at the end of 2005.
The table below lists the main versions of OpenWrt before merging with LEDE.
3LEDE Versions
LEDE Release Version List
4Significant Milestones of OpenWrt and LEDE
Due to the lack of critical updates and support for new devices in OpenWrt for a long time, many core developers expressed dissatisfaction. In May 2016, a new project was initiated, temporarily named “Linux Embedded Development Environment.” It was only a year later that it was officially named LEDE.
LEDE began adopting the 4.x kernel, while OpenWrt’s cc version (15.05) used the 3.x kernel. Due to changes in the kernel interface, many chip manufacturers’ SDKs still used older versions of OpenWrt, and future versions should be compatible with higher versions of OpenWrt.
In June 2017, LEDE began merging OpenWrt’s code, and in January 2018, LEDE merged with OpenWrt, adopting LEDE’s management rules but retaining the OpenWrt name.
In June 2018, the V18.06 version was released, marking the first version after the merger.
5How to Choose Source Code
For flashing enthusiasts, it is recommended to use the latest OpenWrt 18.06 version, as the new version can receive more technical support, and forum discussions are more active, with better plugin compatibility.
For kernel developers, it is still recommended to use kernel versions below 3.x, such as OpenWrt CC version, as many kernel modules are generally based on 2.6 or 3.x, and there are fewer discussions about new kernel interfaces, leading to delayed problem resolutions.
