# Amateur Radio Emergency Data Network AREDN(tm) Firmware

http://www.aredn.org

## Build Information

The AREDN firmware is based on OpenWrt with additional packages and patches.
A Makefile automates the entire process to create firmware images.

### Build Prerequisites

Please take a look at the [OpenWrt documentation](https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-developer/install-buildsystem)
for a complete and up to date list of packages for your operating system. 

On Ubuntu/Debian:
```
apt-get install git subversion build-essential libncurses5-dev \
  zlib1g-dev gawk unzip libxml-perl flex wget gettext quilt \
  python libssl-dev shellcheck lua5.1
```

On openSUSE:
```
zypper install --type pattern devel_basis
zypper install git subversion ncurses-devel zlib-devel gawk unzip \
  perl-libxml-perl flex wget gettext-runtime quilt python \
  libopenssl-devel shellcheck lua51
```

### Building firmware images

To obtain the source and build the firmware locally use:

```bash
git clone https://github.com/aredn/aredn_ar71xx.git
cd aredn_ar71xx
vi config.mk # enter your callsign, etc.
# build default ubnt and tplink images
make  
# copy the firmware image files to save elsewhere, will be cleaned next step
# build mikrotik images
make SUBTARGET=mikrotik
```

Building the images may take minutes or hours depending on the machine.
For more details see [build options](https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-developer/build-system/use-buildsystem).  
Review the build options in config.mk: `-j <number of cores + 1>`. 
`V=s` will give more verbose error messages.

An internet connection is required during the build process. A good internet
connection can improve the build time.

You need approximately 10GB of space for the build.

### Directory Layout

```
Included in the git Repo:
config.mk    <- build settings
openwrt.mk   <- which openwrt repo and branch/tag/commit to use
feeds.conf/  <- custom package feeds (edit to point to your clone of aredn_packages)
files/       <- file system in AERDN created images, most customizations go here
patches/     <- patches to openwrt go here 
scripts/     <- tests and other scripts called from the build 
configs/     <- definitions of features in the devices' kernel and what packages to include
Makefile     <- the build definition
README.md    <- this file

Created by the build:
openwrt/     <- cloned openwrt repository
firmware/    <- the build will place the images here
results/     <- code checks and other test results in jUnit xml format
```

### Patches with quilt

The patches directory contains quilt patches applied on top of the
openwrt git repo defined in config.mk. 

If a patch is not yet included upstream, it can be placed in the `patches` directory with
the `quilt` tool. Please configure `quilt` as described in 
[OpenWrt Quilt](https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-developer/build-system/use-patches-with-buildsystem).  

#### Add, modify or delete a patch

Switch to the openwrt directory:

```bash
cd openwrt
```
Now you can use the `quilt` commands.

##### Example: add a patch

```bash
quilt push -a                 # apply all patches
quilt new 008-awesome.patch   # tell quilt to create a new patch
quilt edit somedir/somefile1  # edit files
quilt edit somedir/somefile2
quilt refresh                 # creates/updates the patch file
```

## Submitting new features and patches to AREDN

The highlevel steps to submit to this repository https://github.com/aredn/aredn_ar71xx are:

1) create a github account and 'fork' this repo
2) git commit a change into your fork, e.g. http://github.com/ae6xe/aredn_ar71xx
3) create a pull request for http://github.com/aredn/aredn_ar71xx to consider your change

## Submitting Bug Reports

Please submit all issues to http://github.com/aredn/aredn_ar71xx/issues