---

name: kconfig-tweak description: "Modify Linux kernel or NuttX .config files from command line without interactive menuconfig. Use when needing to enable/disable config options, set values, query option states, or batch-modify kernel configurations in scripts or CI/CD pipelines."

kconfig-tweak

Command-line tool for modifying .config files without launching interactive menuconfig.

Quick Reference

Copy# Enable/disable options
kconfig-tweak --enable DEBUG_INFO
kconfig-tweak --disable MODULES
kconfig-tweak -e SMP -d PREEMPT    # Multiple in one command

# Set values
kconfig-tweak --set-val LOG_BUF_SHIFT 17
kconfig-tweak --set-str LOCALVERSION "-custom"

# Query state
kconfig-tweak --state DEBUG_INFO   # Returns: y, n, m, or undef

# Specify config file
kconfig-tweak --file boards/myboard/.config --enable USB

# Module support
kconfig-tweak --module DRM         # Set to m (module)

Commands

Position Control

Insert options after a specific option (useful for maintaining config order):

Copykconfig-tweak --enable-after USB USB_STORAGE    # -E
kconfig-tweak --disable-after NET BRIDGE        # -D
kconfig-tweak --module-after DRM DRM_I915       # -M

Options

Environment Variables

• CONFIG_ - Symbol prefix (default: "CONFIG_")

Common Patterns

Batch Configuration

Copy# Enable multiple debug options
kconfig-tweak -e DEBUG_INFO -e DEBUG_FS -e KALLSYMS

# Configure network stack
kconfig-tweak --file .config \
  -e NET -e INET -e IPV6 \
  --set-val TCP_CONG_CUBIC y

CI/CD Integration

Copy# Start from defconfig, then customize
make defconfig
kconfig-tweak -e DEBUG_INFO -d MODULES
make olddefconfig  # Resolve dependencies

Query Before Modify

Copy# Check current state
STATE=$(kconfig-tweak -s PREEMPT)
if [ "$STATE" = "y" ]; then
  kconfig-tweak -d PREEMPT
fi

Notes

• kconfig-tweak does NOT validate dependencies; run make olddefconfig after modifications
• Symbol names auto-uppercase unless --keep-case is used
• Changes are immediate; no confirmation prompt