# openthread/openthread

OpenThread released by Google is an open-source implementation of the Thread networking protocol

Repository: https://github.com/openthread/openthread
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/openthread
Homepage: https://openthread.io
Language: C++
License: BSD-3-Clause
License Family: permissive
Topics: openthread, iot, google, nest, wireless, mesh-networks, ieee-802154, ipv6, internet-of-things, embedded, hacktoberfest
Last push: 2026-08-26T20:50:55+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 98/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 95, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 3799, "days_push": 7, "days_rel": 33, "gap_med": 30, "n_releases_24m": 4}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 4020, forks 1205 (observed 2026-08-28T04:08:32.511664+00:00)

## What it is
OpenThread is Google's open-source, Thread Certified implementation of the Thread networking protocol, covering all Thread networking layers (IPv6, 6LoWPAN, IEEE 802.15.4, Mesh Link Establishment, Mesh Routing) and device roles. It is OS and platform agnostic with a narrow platform abstraction layer and small memory footprint, supporting SoC, RCP, and NCP designs.

## Use cases
- build a Thread mesh network for smart home devices
- implement Thread stack on an embedded SoC like nRF52840 or EFR32
- simulate a Thread network in Docker without hardware
- add IPv6 low-power mesh connectivity to IoT products
- run a Thread Radio Co-Processor (RCP) with ot-daemon
- certify a product as a Thread Certified Component
- build a Thread border router connecting Thread to Wi-Fi/Ethernet

## When to choose
- you need a certified, spec-complete Thread 1.4.0 implementation
- you target resource-constrained embedded hardware with a small footprint
- you want portable code with a narrow platform abstraction layer
- you need SoC or co-processor (RCP/NCP) deployment options
- you want vendor-backed open source with broad silicon partner support

## When to avoid
- you need Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Zigbee rather than Thread/802.15.4
- you want a turnkey application rather than a networking stack to integrate
- your platform lacks the memory or a port of the OpenThread platform layer
- you need a high-level SDK with GUI tooling rather than a C/C++ stack

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: stable
- function: networking, embedded, security, cli, sdk
- domain: iot, embedded-systems, networking
- platform: embedded, iot, cross-platform
- tags: thread-protocol, ieee-802154, 6lowpan, ipv6, mesh-networking, border-router, matter, connected-home, ncp, soc, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- openthread/openthread (main) score 98

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:08:32.511664+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-29T18:23:56.376616+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/openthread/openthread (fetched 2026-08-28T04:08:32.511664+00:00, sha caf73e8ca6ae)
  - homepage: https://openthread.io (fetched 2026-08-29T09:16:43.772885+00:00, sha 7a529a318783)
  - site_page: https://openthread.io/guides (fetched 2026-08-29T09:16:43.782936+00:00, sha af2eb4b7b98f)
  - site_page: https://openthread.io/guides/build (fetched 2026-08-29T09:16:43.785837+00:00, sha 0cb331ee8725)
  - site_page: https://openthread.io/releases/thread-reference-20230706 (fetched 2026-08-29T09:16:43.788202+00:00, sha 3f1df9fbe5af)
  - site_page: https://openthread.io/releases/thread-reference-20230119 (fetched 2026-08-29T09:16:43.790619+00:00, sha 19e56c5711b1)
  - site_page: https://openthread.io/releases/thread-reference-20221027 (fetched 2026-08-29T09:16:43.793284+00:00, sha 5d1b3acdcb63)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.