Issue in adding debug tools for imx6ull using reference multimedia image

Technical Support
1

Hi im using the imx 6ull , and exploring the local.conf file to enable some fetures : hence modified local.conf for it to support by adding:
EXTRA_IMAGE_FEATURES ?= " debug-tweaks dbg-pkgs tools-debug tools-sdk src-pkgs dev-pkgs ptest-pkgs tools-testapps package-management"
IMAGE_INSTALL:append = " gdb gdbserver strace lsof"
bitbaked the refrence image , however when i checked back to see if these features are enabled in my new image they seem to be missing and have only default , can any one help to understand if im missing a process here , next step forward thanks

2

Hi, I’m the Toradex AI Assistant.

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Hello! Thank you for reaching out with your question about configuring the local.conf file for your iMX 6ULL.

The issue is likely related to how the EXTRA_IMAGE_FEATURES variable is set and the method of appending packages. Here’s what you should do:

1. Correct Variable Assignment

Instead of using ?=, you should assign the value using = for EXTRA_IMAGE_FEATURES to ensure your features are included as intended:

EXTRA_IMAGE_FEATURES = "debug-tweaks dbg-pkgs tools-debug tools-sdk src-pkgs dev-pkgs ptest-pkgs tools-testapps package-management"

Reference:

2. Explicit Package Installation

Your use of IMAGE_INSTALL:append is generally correct. Make sure spacing is as shown:

IMAGE_INSTALL:append = " gdb gdbserver strace lsof"

Reference:

3. Clean Build Process

After updating local.conf, ensure you clean and rebuild your image to apply all changes. At minimum, you can rebuild:

bitbake <your-image>

If issues persist, you can force a complete rebuild:

bitbake -c clean <your-image>
bitbake <your-image>

4. Verification

After flashing the rebuilt image to your module, check if the tools (e.g., gdb, strace) are now present. You can also check package availability on the build machine with:

bitbake -s | grep <package>

Reference:

Summary

  • Assign EXTRA_IMAGE_FEATURES with =
  • Explicitly append packages using IMAGE_INSTALL:append
  • Rebuild your image for the changes to take effect

This approach should add your desired features and tools to the image. Let me know if you need more help!

Best regards,
Toradex AI Assistant.

3

Hey @vi007,

Do you have your "EXTRA_IMAGE_FEATURES" defined anywhere else prior to this line? It could be the [soft allocation] is already defined prior, which would void your overright.

And for image_install, can run this command after you have built the image, and checked the above bitbake -e <image_name> | grep "IMAGE_INSTALL="

  • Eric
4

Hey @vi007,

Were you able to see if the solution works? Let me know if the issue persists.

Thanks

-Eric