user10003: I am using the SoftAP feature of the ESP to create a central node, and connecting five or six clients in the final application. However, I don't know if i can connect that many clients.
One of the core files on GitHub, esp_wifi_types.h shows two conflicting lines:
#line 215, as a member of the 'wifi_ap_config_t' struct
uint8_t max_connection; /**< Max number of stations allowed to connect in, default 4, max 4 */

#line 254
#define ESP_WIFI_MAX_CONN_NUM (10) /**< max number of stations which can connect to ESP32 soft-AP */

So is it four or ten? Or something else? Any advice by somebody who's tried this would be appreciated.
esp_wifi_types.h on GitHub

user10394: The answer is as clear as any other EspressIf configuration data, it is 4 or maybe 5, or 8, or 12, 16 or even 20 (the same as a ESP8266!)
To clarify, it seems that around 2015 the maximum was 4 connections, but it is possible to recompile the SDK to support up to 16 connections.  There doesn't seem to be a #define of flag that will let a programmer control this.
These links may guide you to a proper solution:
https://github.com/esp8266/Arduino/issues/570
 or https://myesp8266.blogspot.com/2016/11/esp32-increase-maximum-number-of-sockets.html

10003: <p>I am using the SoftAP feature of the ESP to create a central node, and connecting five or six clients in the final application. However, I don't know if i can connect that many clients.</p>

<p>One of the core files on GitHub, <code>esp_wifi_types.h</code> shows two conflicting lines:</p>

<pre><code>#line 215, as a member of the 'wifi_ap_config_t' struct
uint8_t max_connection; /**&lt; Max number of stations allowed to connect in, default 4, max 4 */

#line 254
#define ESP_WIFI_MAX_CONN_NUM (10) /**&lt; max number of stations which can connect to ESP32 soft-AP */
</code></pre>

<p>So is it four or ten? Or something else? Any advice by somebody who's tried this would be appreciated.</p>

<p><a href="https://github.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/blob/master/tools/sdk/include/esp32/esp_wifi_types.h" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="esp_wifi_types.h on GitHub">esp_wifi_types.h on GitHub</a></p>
 10394: <p>The answer is as clear as any other EspressIf configuration data, it is 4 or maybe 5, or 8, or 12, 16 or even 20 (the same as a ESP8266!)</p>

<p>To clarify, it seems that around 2015 the maximum was 4 connections, but it is possible to recompile the SDK to support up to 16 connections.  There doesn't seem to be a #define of flag that will let a programmer control this.</p>

<p>These links may guide you to a proper solution:
<a href="https://github.com/esp8266/Arduino/issues/570" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://github.com/esp8266/Arduino/issues/570</a>
 or <a href="https://myesp8266.blogspot.com/2016/11/esp32-increase-maximum-number-of-sockets.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://myesp8266.blogspot.com/2016/11/esp32-increase-maximum-number-of-sockets.html</a></p>
