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New OpenWrt Releases and News About OpenWrt Project/s
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XDA ☛ Your old router isn't trash, and one piece of software turns it into the best access point in your house
Every time I mention that you don't really need custom router firmware anymore, someone reminds me that OpenWrt is still going strong. While Broadcom refuses to open up its Wi-Fi drivers for use, Mediatek and Qualcomm are still supporting open source developers (but in differing ways), and several manufacturers are using reskinned versions of OpenWrt for their routers.
And really, I should know this. I first used OpenWrt on a Linksys WRT54G fifteen years ago, and I've used it on multiple routers with Atheros-based chipsets since. GL.iNet uses a reskinned OpenWrt on its travel routers, and I have several that I absolutely love. And with DD-WRT and its derivatives all but disappearing as chipset support dwindles, OpenWrt is almost the only way to rescue an old router from becoming e-waste.
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HowTo Geek ☛ OpenWrt’s latest update adds a piece of Alpine Linux
The popular open-source firmware for routers and other networking equipment, OpenWrt, just released a new major update. OpenWrt 25.12 is now available after “over one year” of development, with new features and more supported devices.
If you’ve never used it, OpenWrt is an alternative firmware for wireless routers, access points, network switches, and other embedded devices, powered by the Linux kernel. It can be an excellent option for reviving and repurposing old networking hardware, or just a way to turn a Raspberry Pi or regular PC into a high-end router.
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Heise ☛ OpenWrt: Version 25.12.0 brings package manager change
The OpenWrt project has released version 25.12.0 of its open-source router firmware. Particularly noteworthy are the numerous supported devices and the switch to a new package management system.
In the release notes, OpenWrt provides an overview of the changes. The developers highlight that upgrading from OpenWrt 24.10 to 25.12 is supported by the sysupgrade tool in many cases, which attempts to migrate the configuration. Nevertheless, those wishing to upgrade should back up their configuration beforehand, advise the OpenWrt programmers. The developers have worked on OpenWrt 25.12.0 for over a year, with more than 4700 source code commits since version 24.10. The codename “Dave's Guitar” is intended to honor Dave Täht, who passed away in April 2025.