Wi-Fi Hotspot

This package lets a Linux computer share its working Ethernet internet as a Wi-Fi network for a Chromebook. It cannot provide internet if the Ethernet connection itself is offline.

Install

After wifi-hotspot has been published to PyPI, install it in a virtual environment:

python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
python -m pip install wifi-hotspot

Connect the Chromebook

You need a Linux computer with internet working over Ethernet and a Wi-Fi adapter that supports hotspot mode. Run these steps on the Linux computer itself, not in a Codespaces terminal.

1. Plug the Ethernet cable into the Linux computer and check that it can open a website.

2. Start the hotspot:

   sudo "$(command -v wifi-hotspot)" start --ssid "Chromebook Internet"
   

3. Enter your Linux password if asked. NetworkManager will ask you to choose a password for the new Wi-Fi network. Remember it.

4. On the Chromebook, open the network menu, turn on Wi-Fi, and select Chromebook Internet.

5. Enter the Wi-Fi password and open a website to check the connection.

Stop the hotspot from the Linux computer when finished:

sudo "$(command -v wifi-hotspot)" stop

If the helper cannot find a suitable Wi-Fi adapter, the adapter may not support hotspot mode. If Ethernet does not provide internet to the Linux computer, the hotspot cannot provide internet to the Chromebook.

The package also provides network-resilience status for network diagnostics. The PWA files in this repository are a separate offline status screen; they are not part of the PyPI package.

Build and Publish

From the project directory, build and check the package:

python3 -m pip install --upgrade build twine
python3 -m build
python3 -m twine check dist/wifi_hotspot-*

Create a PyPI API token in your PyPI account. Upload without putting the token in the command or saving it in the project:

export TWINE_USERNAME=__token__
read -rsp "PyPI token: " TWINE_PASSWORD
printf '\n'
python3 -m twine upload dist/wifi_hotspot-*
unset TWINE_USERNAME TWINE_PASSWORD

wifi-hotspot returned as available when checked, but another user may claim the name before upload. This package also retains dnss-hotspot as an alias. Never share your PyPI token or commit it to the repository.