[LEDE-DEV] openwrt and lede - remerge proposal

[Edwin van Drunen]

As a long time user of OpenWRT and recent “LEDE convert” I would also like to chime in on the naming and branding of the post-merge project.

My employer and several of my industrial clients have used OpenWRT/LEDE extensively over the past few years in many projects, ranging from routers and access points to embedded servers and industrial controllers.
It was the small footprint combined with the versatility of the platform that made it work and the availability of generic pre-built images for many platforms and documentation that made it a success.
But despite the great track record of the system, there was always a bit of a “hobbyist” feel that the OpenWRT name brought with it and a sense of unprofessionalism being perceived by management and some end users.
Most likely this is because the name OpenWRT is strongly related to “hacking" consumer routers (WRT54GL etc.) and the 90’s style website also didn’t help.

When LEDE was forked and presented as a more multi-purpose embedded linux, came with new releases quickly and with a more modern website and interface to code and documentation, the switch was easily made.
Not having WRT in the name, implying it would be for wireless routers, but instead using the broad term “development environment” was helping to better describe what the platform is and give it a more professional sound.
With the new name the platform was now seen as a professional piece of infrastructure.

In my opinion LEDE perfectly describes the combination of OpenWRT’s version of the buildroot system, the set of patches and the Luci interface:
The entire development environment that is needed to build a generic bootable image and software packages from source for almost any platform, with matching pre-built SDK’s and image builders.

OpenWRT better describes the wide range of specific system images built for COTS products (which are mostly wireless routers) and is a more suitable name for a final “product".
You should consider maintaining the LEDE name or somehow differentiatie between the “development environment” and the "final product".

With kind regards,
Edwin van Drunen

> Who among our resident young-timers knows XMMS? Once upon a time this
> was a household name (FOSS folks houses). Now I reckon those who use it
> as a primary player do it for nostalgia.
> 
> Likewise, OpenWRT while more recognizable than LEDE, is not worth as
> much as people here paint it, and will only remain relevant as long as
> people keep using it. Market/brand concept (in retail) doesn't really apply.
> 
> Indifferent what name this project ends up using, just that LEDE (Linux
> Embedded Dev. Environment) expands the scope beyond routers, and breaks
> free from the "WRT" implication of wireless routers (does LEDE still
> have any of the original WRT source release by linksys?).
> 
> LEDE sounds more fitting and gives the impression of a proper distro,
> which it is, rather than an improved fork/clone of an ancient source dump.
> 
> No biggie, just thought I'd chime in. Good luck all.
> 
> Regards,
> A. Benz
> 
> On 05/09/17 09:33, Eric Luehrsen wrote:
>> 
>   From a raw objective stand, OpenWrt has better market value as a brand.
> 
>> 
> Its longer lived on the net and more unique audibly. If we surveyed 1000
> 
>> 
> somewhat technical people, then we would have way more recognition hits.
> 
>> 
> I realize the vote concluded already, but hopefully this thought helps
> 
>> 
> ease some less happy minds.
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