Why are the linux kernel so large?

[DMårt]

I compiled the linux kernel with STM32CubeIDE and notice that the linux kernel vmlinux is about 242 Mb.

Why so large?

Or do I looking at the wrong folder? I'm standing inside the build folder.

[BarryWhit]

you probably want vmlinuz which is the compressed version. The size may be artificially large when compiling with kernel debug options on. The presence of debug symbols blows up the binary size.

[DMårt]

@BarryWhit 

Hi! It was the "uImage" that I need to use if I'm using U-boot. Current uImage is about 8 Mb.

[BarryWhit]

Makes sense. probably stripped before being compressed. Run the 'file' utility on it and see what you get.