Re: [PATCH 1/5] ARM: dts: ti: Enable overlays for all DTB files

[Andreas Kemnade <andreas@kemnade.info>]

On Thu, 12 Feb 2026 17:55:43 +0100
"H. Nikolaus Schaller" <hns@goldelico.com> wrote:

> > Am 12.02.2026 um 17:47 schrieb Andreas Kemnade <andreas@kemnade.info>:
> > 
> > On Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:49:43 +0100
> > "H. Nikolaus Schaller" <hns@goldelico.com> wrote:
> >   
> >>> Am 12.02.2026 um 16:26 schrieb Kory Maincent (TI) <kory.maincent@bootlin.com>:
> >>> 
> >>> Allow overlays to be applied to any DTB. This adds around ~40% to the
> >>> total size of the DTB files on average.    
> >> 
> >> Is this unconditionally enabled or can it be turned off by some CONFIG? We have
> >> our own defconfig so I would not worry if if is enabled in omap2plus_defconfig
> >> and disabled in ours.
> >> 
> >> We have several devices where the boot loader can't handle overlays (never touch
> >> a working boot-loader :) So this seems to only contribute to build and load time
> >> without benefit.
> >>   
> > As long as you do not add overlays, the bootloader does not care. I would
> > like to simply carry around the 1-bit mmc overlay for one broken board.
> > That would help me. So I think there is a benefit but nobody forces
> > you to use it.  
> 
> Well, it does not force to use the really good feature, but it forces to add
> ~40% more file size and some more compile time, if I understand it correctly.
> 
Compile time, hardly measurable even if you just do make dtbs.

Size on disk:
a) if it lives around in a /boot partitions with kernels and initrams in it,
   then we are around 1% more space needed.

b) if it has separate partitions maybe on some mtd: Looking around: GTA04
   has quite some headroom left. Usage is still <50% even with symbols
   enabled.

But on the other no one else seems to enable that besides for devices with
open expansion boards carrying "hats". So overall, should we really be the
exception? 

Regards,
Andreas