Image¶
Armbian builds three image flavours, chosen with the two switches below: a minimal bare-CLI image, the standard CLI/server image (the default when neither switch is set), and a desktop image. For desktop builds you then pick which environment to install and how many applications come with it.
BUILD_MINIMAL¶
string
yes: build a bare command-line image with only the essential packagesno(default)
Produces the smallest possible image — no desktop and none of the extra server utilities that ship in the standard CLI image — so it boots fast and leaves the most room for your own workload. It suits headless appliances and single-application deployments where you install exactly what you need on top. Not compatible with BUILD_DESKTOP=yes; leaving both switches at no builds the standard CLI/server image instead.
BUILD_DESKTOP¶
string
yes: build a graphical desktop imageno(default)
Adds a full graphical desktop on top of the base system. When set, choose the desktop with DESKTOP_ENVIRONMENT and how much software it bundles with DESKTOP_TIER; in interactive mode the build prompts for both. Mutually exclusive with BUILD_MINIMAL=yes.
DESKTOP_ENVIRONMENT¶
string
Which desktop environment to install when BUILD_DESKTOP=yes — for example xfce, gnome, kde-plasma, mate or cinnamon. Setting it on the command line skips the interactive prompt. The list of available environments is defined per release by armbian-config, so not every desktop is offered on every board and release combination.
DESKTOP_TIER¶
string
minimal: the desktop environment on its own, with almost no extra applicationsmid: the desktop plus a common everyday application set — browser, file manager, media and utilities (the interactive default)full: the desktop plus the complete bundled application set, including the heavier office and productivity apps
Controls how much software is preinstalled alongside the desktop, letting you trade image size against out-of-the-box convenience.