Install a very minimal build (disables, for example, plugins, fonts, most drivers, non-critical features)

Packages describing “minimal” as local USE flag

Package“minimal” Flag Description
app-arch/tarjust install `tar`
app-crypt/ekeydOnly install the ekey-egd-linux service rather than the full ekeyd package.
app-editors/nanoDisable all fancy features, including ones that otherwise have a dedicated USE flag (such as spelling).
app-misc/unfooDo not install all support archive binaries
app-office/scribusDon't install headers (only required for e.g. plug-in developers)
app-text/dictdDon't build server but dict client, dictzip and dictfmt only.
dev-db/unixODBCDisable bundled drivers and extra libraries (most users don't need these)
dev-lang/lazarusDon't build extra packages from the bigide component
dev-libs/libcdioOnly build the libcdio library and little more, just to be used to link against from multimedia players. With this USE flag enabled, none of the command-line utilities are built, nor is the CDDA library.
dev-util/dialogDisable library, install command-line program only
dev-util/google-perftoolsOnly build the tcmalloc_minimal library, ignoring the heap checker and the profilers.
games-simulation/simutransDon't install any PakSets (scenario data)
lxqt-base/lxqt-metaDo not install x11-wm/openboxwindow manager
media-gfx/iscan-plugin-gt-f500Install the firmware only, and not the plugin.
net-analyzer/muninOnly install munin-node and its plugins. This excludes the scripts to generate the web pages and the graphs.
net-analyzer/nscaOnly build and install the send_nsca command and not the daemon. This allows a very minimal install with no overhead when setting up a node.
net-misc/ytfzfSkip all optional dependencies (may no longer work out-of-the-box and require custom setting up)
net-nds/openldapBuild libraries & userspace tools only. Does not install any server code
net-p2p/eiskaltdcppDon't install headers
net-print/hplipOnly build internal hpijs/hpcups driver (not recommended at all, make sure you know what you are doing)
net-wireless/dump1090Exclude all HTML/webserver extras for a tiny build, e.g. to export data only
sci-electronics/kicad-metaDo not install extra data like 3D packages and templates.
sci-mathematics/eclibBuild only the "mwrank" program.
sci-mathematics/gapInstall only the GAP packages that are strictly required for GAP to run. GAP will complain about the others unless you either start it with the "-A" flag or set "AutoloadPackages" in your gap.ini.
sys-apps/iproute2only install ip and tc programs, without eBPF support
sys-auth/pambaseDisables the standard PAM modules that provide extra information to users on login; this includes pam_lastlog, pam_motd, pam_mail and other similar modules. This might not be a good idea on a multi-user system but could reduce slightly the overhead on single-user non-networked systems.
sys-boot/liloDo not install the dolilo helper script
sys-fs/zfsDon't install python scripts (arcstat, dbufstat etc) and avoid dependency on dev-lang/python
sys-libs/musl-nscdOnly installs the header files
virtual/sshPrefer net-misc/dropbear over net-misc/openssh
x11-misc/py3statusDon't depend on x11-misc/i3status if you don't plan to use any of its built-in modules.
x11-themes/QGnomePlatformSkip kde-frameworks/qqc2-desktop-style dependency (Warning: some apps could be wrongly rendered)

All packages providing a “minimal” USE flag (172)