[PATCH] perf build: Add MINIMAL=1 to build without optional features

[PATCH] perf build: Add MINIMAL=1 to build without optional features

[Sasha Levin]

Turning off every optional feature takes a long list of NO_* variables,
and the list has to follow features as they are added and renamed. The
one in tests/make for make_minimal has fallen behind: it leaves
libtraceevent, jevents, slang, AIO, LZMA, zlib, libLLVM and Rust to be
detected, so a make_minimal build still needs libtraceevent and python.

Add MINIMAL=1, which turns off every optional feature, the BPF
skeletons, and the shellcheck, mypy and pylint runs. perf then builds,
natively or cross, with no library beyond the C library and without
python, pkg-config, clang or rustc, and the result does not depend on
what is installed on the build machine.

A MINIMAL=1 build also leaves out the notices that post unwind and
python support are disabled, which it asked for, and the one about the
pkg-config search path for cross builds, as pkg-config is not needed
then.

It is handled in Makefile.perf rather than Makefile.config, as
Makefile.config is included after the pkg-config, shellcheck, mypy and
pylint setup.

Use it for make_minimal in tests/make.

Suggested-by: Ian Rogers <irogers@google.com>
Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/CAP-5=fWFY-tpJz2vcBZvurwdZY5gwd8cuTemE9q1rtZ0Vi0dng@mail.gmail.com
Assisted-by: LLM
Signed-off-by: Sasha Levin <sashal@kernel.org>
---
The kbuild series that builds perf with MINIMAL=1 carries the mainline
version of this patch:
https://lore.kernel.org/r/20261016143143.3613501-1-sashal@kernel.org

 tools/perf/Makefile.config |  8 ++++++--
 tools/perf/Makefile.perf   | 42 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--
 tools/perf/tests/make      |  8 +-------
 3 files changed, 47 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-)

diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile.config b/tools/perf/Makefile.config
index b4764f69f47f4..4af7934887539 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile.config
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile.config
@@ -753,7 +753,9 @@ dwarf-post-unwind-text := BUG
 # setup DWARF post unwinder
 ifdef NO_LIBUNWIND
   ifdef NO_LIBDW
-    $(warning Disabling post unwind, no support found.)
+    ifneq ($(MINIMAL),1)
+      $(warning Disabling post unwind, no support found.)
+    endif
     dwarf-post-unwind := 0
   else
     dwarf-post-unwind-text := libdw
@@ -828,7 +830,9 @@ endif
 
 PYTHON_EXTENSION_SUFFIX := '.so'
 ifdef NO_PYTHON_MODULE
-  $(call disable-python,Python support disabled by user)
+  ifneq ($(MINIMAL),1)
+    $(call disable-python,Python support disabled by user)
+  endif
 else
 
   ifndef PYTHON
diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile.perf b/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
index 2d9379fea2672..5297fc15a3c9e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
@@ -129,6 +129,9 @@ include ../scripts/utilities.mak
 # Define NO_MYPY if you do not want to run mypy during build
 #
 # Define NO_PYLINT if you do not want to run pylint during build
+#
+# Define MINIMAL=1 to build without any optional feature, needing only a C
+# compiler and library, flex and bison
 
 # As per kernel Makefile, avoid funny character set dependencies
 unexport LC_ALL
@@ -174,6 +177,39 @@ endef
 
 LD += $(EXTRA_LDFLAGS)
 
+# MINIMAL=1 is handled here rather than in Makefile.config, which is included
+# after the pkg-config, shellcheck, mypy and pylint setup below
+ifeq ($(MINIMAL),1)
+  NO_LIBELF := 1
+  NO_LIBDW := 1
+  NO_LIBTRACEEVENT := 1
+  NO_JEVENTS := 1
+  NO_PYTHON_MODULE := 1
+  NO_LIBBPF := 1
+  BUILD_BPF_SKEL := 0
+  NO_SLANG := 1
+  NO_DEMANGLE := 1
+  NO_BACKTRACE := 1
+  NO_AIO := 1
+  NO_ZLIB := 1
+  NO_LZMA := 1
+  NO_LIBZSTD := 1
+  NO_LIBNUMA := 1
+  NO_LIBLLVM := 1
+  NO_CAPSTONE := 1
+  NO_LIBPFM4 := 1
+  NO_LIBDEBUGINFOD := 1
+  NO_BABELTRACE2 := 1
+  NO_SDT := 1
+  NO_JVMTI := 1
+  NO_RUST := 1
+  NO_PERF_READ_VDSO32 := 1
+  NO_PERF_READ_VDSOX32 := 1
+  NO_SHELLCHECK := 1
+  NO_MYPY := 1
+  NO_PYLINT := 1
+endif
+
 # Some distros provide the command $(CROSS_COMPILE)pkg-config for
 # searching packges installed with Multiarch. Use it for cross
 # compilation if it is existed.
@@ -195,8 +231,10 @@ else
       PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR := $(PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR):/usr/local/share/pkgconfig/
       PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR := $(PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR):/usr/share/pkgconfig/
       export PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR
-      $(warning Missing PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR, PKG_CONFIG_PATH and PKG_CONFIG_SYSROOT_DIR for cross compilation,)
-      $(warning set PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR for using Multiarch libs.)
+      ifneq ($(MINIMAL),1)
+        $(warning Missing PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR, PKG_CONFIG_PATH and PKG_CONFIG_SYSROOT_DIR for cross compilation,)
+        $(warning set PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR for using Multiarch libs.)
+      endif
     endif
   endif
 endif
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/make b/tools/perf/tests/make
index 7524de5228029..bef5599b95d6f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/make
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/make
@@ -119,13 +119,7 @@ make_install_prefix       := install prefix=/tmp/krava
 make_install_prefix_slash := install prefix=/tmp/krava/
 make_static         := LDFLAGS=-static NO_PERF_READ_VDSO32=1 NO_PERF_READ_VDSOX32=1 NO_JVMTI=1 NO_LIBTRACEEVENT=1 NO_LIBELF=1
 
-# all the NO_* variable combined
-make_minimal        := NO_PYTHON_MODULE=1
-make_minimal        += NO_DEMANGLE=1 NO_LIBELF=1 NO_BACKTRACE=1
-make_minimal        += NO_LIBNUMA=1 NO_LIBBIONIC=1 NO_LIBDW=1
-make_minimal        += NO_LIBBPF=1
-make_minimal        += NO_SDT=1 NO_JVMTI=1 NO_LIBZSTD=1
-make_minimal        += NO_CAPSTONE=1
+make_minimal        := MINIMAL=1
 
 # binutils 2_42 and newer have bfd_thread_init()
 new_libbfd := $(shell echo '#include <bfd.h>' | $(CC) -E -x c - | grep bfd_thread_init)

base-commit: 1c90f0a3c8a1c4e38f9edd97af9e20848805a7fb
-- 
2.53.0

Re: [PATCH] perf build: Add MINIMAL=1 to build without optional features

[sashiko-bot]

> Turning off every optional feature takes a long list of NO_* variables,
> and the list has to follow features as they are added and renamed. The
> one in tests/make for make_minimal has fallen behind: it leaves
> libtraceevent, jevents, slang, AIO, LZMA, zlib, libLLVM and Rust to be
> detected, so a make_minimal build still needs libtraceevent and python.
> 
> Add MINIMAL=1, which turns off every optional feature, the BPF
> skeletons, and the shellcheck, mypy and pylint runs. perf then builds,
> natively or cross, with no library beyond the C library and without
> python, pkg-config, clang or rustc, and the result does not depend on
> what is installed on the build machine.
> 
> A MINIMAL=1 build also leaves out the notices that post unwind and
> python support are disabled, which it asked for, and the one about the
> pkg-config search path for cross builds, as pkg-config is not needed
> then.
> 
> It is handled in Makefile.perf rather than Makefile.config, as
> Makefile.config is included after the pkg-config, shellcheck, mypy and
> pylint setup.
> 
> Use it for make_minimal in tests/make.
> 
> Suggested-by: Ian Rogers <irogers@google.com>
> Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/CAP-5=fWFY-tpJz2vcBZvurwdZY5gwd8cuTemE9q1rtZ0Vi0dng@mail.gmail.com
> Assisted-by: LLM
> Signed-off-by: Sasha Levin <sashal@kernel.org>

Sashiko has reviewed this patch and found no issues.

-- 
Sashiko AI review · https://sashiko.dev/#/patchset/20261018135321.3986899-1-sashal@kernel.org?part=1

Re: [PATCH] perf build: Add MINIMAL=1 to build without optional features

[Namhyung Kim]

On Sun, Oct 18, 2026 at 09:53:21AM -0400, Sasha Levin wrote:
> Turning off every optional feature takes a long list of NO_* variables,
> and the list has to follow features as they are added and renamed. The
> one in tests/make for make_minimal has fallen behind: it leaves
> libtraceevent, jevents, slang, AIO, LZMA, zlib, libLLVM and Rust to be
> detected, so a make_minimal build still needs libtraceevent and python.
> 
> Add MINIMAL=1, which turns off every optional feature, the BPF
> skeletons, and the shellcheck, mypy and pylint runs. perf then builds,
> natively or cross, with no library beyond the C library and without
> python, pkg-config, clang or rustc, and the result does not depend on
> what is installed on the build machine.
> 
> A MINIMAL=1 build also leaves out the notices that post unwind and
> python support are disabled, which it asked for, and the one about the
> pkg-config search path for cross builds, as pkg-config is not needed
> then.
> 
> It is handled in Makefile.perf rather than Makefile.config, as
> Makefile.config is included after the pkg-config, shellcheck, mypy and
> pylint setup.
> 
> Use it for make_minimal in tests/make.
> 
> Suggested-by: Ian Rogers <irogers@google.com>
> Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/CAP-5=fWFY-tpJz2vcBZvurwdZY5gwd8cuTemE9q1rtZ0Vi0dng@mail.gmail.com
> Assisted-by: LLM
> Signed-off-by: Sasha Levin <sashal@kernel.org>

Acked-by: Namhyung Kim <namhyung@kernel.org>

Thanks,
Namhyung

> ---
> The kbuild series that builds perf with MINIMAL=1 carries the mainline
> version of this patch:
> https://lore.kernel.org/r/20261016143143.3613501-1-sashal@kernel.org
> 
>  tools/perf/Makefile.config |  8 ++++++--
>  tools/perf/Makefile.perf   | 42 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--
>  tools/perf/tests/make      |  8 +-------
>  3 files changed, 47 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-)
> 
> diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile.config b/tools/perf/Makefile.config
> index b4764f69f47f4..4af7934887539 100644
> --- a/tools/perf/Makefile.config
> +++ b/tools/perf/Makefile.config
> @@ -753,7 +753,9 @@ dwarf-post-unwind-text := BUG
>  # setup DWARF post unwinder
>  ifdef NO_LIBUNWIND
>    ifdef NO_LIBDW
> -    $(warning Disabling post unwind, no support found.)
> +    ifneq ($(MINIMAL),1)
> +      $(warning Disabling post unwind, no support found.)
> +    endif
>      dwarf-post-unwind := 0
>    else
>      dwarf-post-unwind-text := libdw
> @@ -828,7 +830,9 @@ endif
>  
>  PYTHON_EXTENSION_SUFFIX := '.so'
>  ifdef NO_PYTHON_MODULE
> -  $(call disable-python,Python support disabled by user)
> +  ifneq ($(MINIMAL),1)
> +    $(call disable-python,Python support disabled by user)
> +  endif
>  else
>  
>    ifndef PYTHON
> diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile.perf b/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
> index 2d9379fea2672..5297fc15a3c9e 100644
> --- a/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
> +++ b/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
> @@ -129,6 +129,9 @@ include ../scripts/utilities.mak
>  # Define NO_MYPY if you do not want to run mypy during build
>  #
>  # Define NO_PYLINT if you do not want to run pylint during build
> +#
> +# Define MINIMAL=1 to build without any optional feature, needing only a C
> +# compiler and library, flex and bison
>  
>  # As per kernel Makefile, avoid funny character set dependencies
>  unexport LC_ALL
> @@ -174,6 +177,39 @@ endef
>  
>  LD += $(EXTRA_LDFLAGS)
>  
> +# MINIMAL=1 is handled here rather than in Makefile.config, which is included
> +# after the pkg-config, shellcheck, mypy and pylint setup below
> +ifeq ($(MINIMAL),1)
> +  NO_LIBELF := 1
> +  NO_LIBDW := 1
> +  NO_LIBTRACEEVENT := 1
> +  NO_JEVENTS := 1
> +  NO_PYTHON_MODULE := 1
> +  NO_LIBBPF := 1
> +  BUILD_BPF_SKEL := 0
> +  NO_SLANG := 1
> +  NO_DEMANGLE := 1
> +  NO_BACKTRACE := 1
> +  NO_AIO := 1
> +  NO_ZLIB := 1
> +  NO_LZMA := 1
> +  NO_LIBZSTD := 1
> +  NO_LIBNUMA := 1
> +  NO_LIBLLVM := 1
> +  NO_CAPSTONE := 1
> +  NO_LIBPFM4 := 1
> +  NO_LIBDEBUGINFOD := 1
> +  NO_BABELTRACE2 := 1
> +  NO_SDT := 1
> +  NO_JVMTI := 1
> +  NO_RUST := 1
> +  NO_PERF_READ_VDSO32 := 1
> +  NO_PERF_READ_VDSOX32 := 1
> +  NO_SHELLCHECK := 1
> +  NO_MYPY := 1
> +  NO_PYLINT := 1
> +endif
> +
>  # Some distros provide the command $(CROSS_COMPILE)pkg-config for
>  # searching packges installed with Multiarch. Use it for cross
>  # compilation if it is existed.
> @@ -195,8 +231,10 @@ else
>        PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR := $(PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR):/usr/local/share/pkgconfig/
>        PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR := $(PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR):/usr/share/pkgconfig/
>        export PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR
> -      $(warning Missing PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR, PKG_CONFIG_PATH and PKG_CONFIG_SYSROOT_DIR for cross compilation,)
> -      $(warning set PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR for using Multiarch libs.)
> +      ifneq ($(MINIMAL),1)
> +        $(warning Missing PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR, PKG_CONFIG_PATH and PKG_CONFIG_SYSROOT_DIR for cross compilation,)
> +        $(warning set PKG_CONFIG_LIBDIR for using Multiarch libs.)
> +      endif
>      endif
>    endif
>  endif
> diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/make b/tools/perf/tests/make
> index 7524de5228029..bef5599b95d6f 100644
> --- a/tools/perf/tests/make
> +++ b/tools/perf/tests/make
> @@ -119,13 +119,7 @@ make_install_prefix       := install prefix=/tmp/krava
>  make_install_prefix_slash := install prefix=/tmp/krava/
>  make_static         := LDFLAGS=-static NO_PERF_READ_VDSO32=1 NO_PERF_READ_VDSOX32=1 NO_JVMTI=1 NO_LIBTRACEEVENT=1 NO_LIBELF=1
>  
> -# all the NO_* variable combined
> -make_minimal        := NO_PYTHON_MODULE=1
> -make_minimal        += NO_DEMANGLE=1 NO_LIBELF=1 NO_BACKTRACE=1
> -make_minimal        += NO_LIBNUMA=1 NO_LIBBIONIC=1 NO_LIBDW=1
> -make_minimal        += NO_LIBBPF=1
> -make_minimal        += NO_SDT=1 NO_JVMTI=1 NO_LIBZSTD=1
> -make_minimal        += NO_CAPSTONE=1
> +make_minimal        := MINIMAL=1
>  
>  # binutils 2_42 and newer have bfd_thread_init()
>  new_libbfd := $(shell echo '#include <bfd.h>' | $(CC) -E -x c - | grep bfd_thread_init)
> 
> base-commit: 1c90f0a3c8a1c4e38f9edd97af9e20848805a7fb
> -- 
> 2.53.0
> 

Re: [PATCH] perf build: Add MINIMAL=1 to build without optional features

[Arnaldo Carvalho de Melo]

On Wed, Oct 21, 2026 at 04:17:29PM -0700, Namhyung Kim wrote:
> On Sun, Oct 18, 2026 at 09:53:21AM -0400, Sasha Levin wrote:
> > Turning off every optional feature takes a long list of NO_* variables,
> > and the list has to follow features as they are added and renamed. The
> > one in tests/make for make_minimal has fallen behind: it leaves
> > libtraceevent, jevents, slang, AIO, LZMA, zlib, libLLVM and Rust to be
> > detected, so a make_minimal build still needs libtraceevent and python.
> > 
> > Add MINIMAL=1, which turns off every optional feature, the BPF
> > skeletons, and the shellcheck, mypy and pylint runs. perf then builds,
> > natively or cross, with no library beyond the C library and without
> > python, pkg-config, clang or rustc, and the result does not depend on
> > what is installed on the build machine.
> > 
> > A MINIMAL=1 build also leaves out the notices that post unwind and
> > python support are disabled, which it asked for, and the one about the
> > pkg-config search path for cross builds, as pkg-config is not needed
> > then.
> > 
> > It is handled in Makefile.perf rather than Makefile.config, as
> > Makefile.config is included after the pkg-config, shellcheck, mypy and
> > pylint setup.
> > 
> > Use it for make_minimal in tests/make.
> > 
> > Suggested-by: Ian Rogers <irogers@google.com>
> > Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/CAP-5=fWFY-tpJz2vcBZvurwdZY5gwd8cuTemE9q1rtZ0Vi0dng@mail.gmail.com
> > Assisted-by: LLM
> > Signed-off-by: Sasha Levin <sashal@kernel.org>
> 
> Acked-by: Namhyung Kim <namhyung@kernel.org>

Not tested but:

Acked-by: Arnaldo Carvalho de Melo <acme@redhat.com>

- Arnaldo