topic How to include gcc in initramfs (core-image-minimal-initramfs) for i.MX8MP QSPI-only boot in i.MX Processors

How to include gcc in initramfs (core-image-minimal-initramfs) for i.MX8MP QSPI-only boot

Bhardwaj — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 06:06:45 GMT

Hi ,

I am working on an i.MX8M Plus DDR4 custom board and I am able to successfully boot the system entirely from QSPI flash (32MB).

My current boot components are:

flash.bin (U-Boot)
Image.gz (Linux kernel)
imx8mp-ddr4-evk.dtb
core-image-minimal-initramfs.cpio.gz

Since my board does not have SD card or eMMC, I am using initramfs as the root filesystem.

Now I want to include gcc inside core-image-minimal-initramfs.cpio.gz, so that I can compile applications directly on the target without relying on any external storage.

Changed the conf/local.conf and then build using command

bitbake core-image-minimal-initramfs

Also attached the local.conf file for your reference.

It generated core-image-minimal-initramfs.cpio.gz but gcc is not present in that /bin folder and getting like below.

~ # gcc
/bin/sh: gcc: not found

~ # ls
bin dev home init.d media proc run sys usr
boot etc init lib mnt root sbin tmp var

Could you please advise:

What is the correct Yocto method to include gcc in an initramfs image?
Are there any recommended configurations or limitations when using gcc inside initramfs (RAM usage, image size, etc.)?

Any guidance or reference to NXP-supported Yocto practices would be very helpful.

Thank You.

Re: How to include gcc in initramfs (core-image-minimal-initramfs) for i.MX8MP QSPI-only boot

pengyong_zhang — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 08:30:55 GMT

Hi @Bhardwaj

Sorry to reply late, you can add the below code in local.conf file

IMAGE_INSTALL:append = " gcc binutils glibc-utils libgcc-dev make"

B.R

Re: How to include gcc in initramfs (core-image-minimal-initramfs) for i.MX8MP QSPI-only boot

Bhardwaj — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:41:25 GMT

Hi @pengyong_zhang ,

I added the following line to conf/local.conf:

IMAGE_INSTALL:append = " gcc binutils glibc-utils libgcc-dev make"

However, after rebuilding $bitbake core-image-minimal-initramfs, gcc is still not included in core-image-minimal-initramfs.cpio.gz

When i check cpio.gz , gcc is not found (please see the attached screenshot).

Could you please let me know if I’m missing something or if additional configuration is required to include gcc in the initramfs image?

Thank you.

Re: How to include gcc in initramfs (core-image-minimal-initramfs) for i.MX8MP QSPI-only boot

pengyong_zhang — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 02:09:08 GMT

Hi @Bhardwaj

You want to put all of the Image to your QSPI flash(32MB)? If yes, then it's too small to contain gcc.

B.R