[gentoo-dev] Gentoo 'Images' without gcc/portage?

[Allen Rohner]

I have been a Gentoo user for several years, but this is my first step into
gentoo development. I'm looking at the feasability of using gentoo for a
product at work. Is it possible to use a Gentoo host machine to create a
linux 'image' (ramdisk/ext2fs/iso) that does not contain portage or gcc? I
have looked at several embedded gentoo web pages, and am familiar with the
"ROOT=/opt/image emerge busybox dropbear" type command line, but all of the
examples I've seen create a portage tree on the image. Additionally, getting
past bootstrap.sh is painful.

I am looking to use Gentoo to create a standard x86 environment complete
with apache and X, but with no gcc or portage on the target machine.
Additionally, use the same technique to cross-compile to a ppc embedded
system.

Is this possible? Is it a good idea?

Thanks,
Allen Rohner