create_ap

create_ap is a shell script for Linux that turns a wireless network adapter into a Wi-Fi access point. You run it from the command line, pass it the names of your network interfaces along with a name and password for the new network, and it configures everything needed to broadcast a Wi-Fi signal. It supports several encryption options including WPA, WPA2, or an open network with no password, and you can also hide the network name if you want it to not appear in nearby devices' Wi-Fi lists.

The script supports two main ways of sharing an internet connection: a NATed method (where connected devices get their own subnet and traffic is translated through your main connection) and a Bridged method (where the wireless clients join the same network as the wired side). A third option creates the access point without sharing any internet connection at all. The README includes a variety of command-line examples covering all these modes, plus options like client isolation (so devices on the hotspot cannot see each other), choosing a specific channel, and enabling newer Wi-Fi standards for faster throughput.

On systems that use systemd for service management, the access point can be set to start automatically at boot, which makes it usable as a persistent hotspot configuration rather than a one-off command.

The project is no longer maintained by the original author. The README points to two active forks: one focused on adding a graphical interface, and another that extends the concept beyond Wi-Fi to include wired interface sharing and proxy routing. If you need ongoing support or new features, those forks are the recommended direction.

Installation is done by cloning the repository and running a make command, or through the package managers of certain Linux distributions like Arch Linux and Gentoo.