A simple guide to build a static no modular and minimalist kernel - tested on Trisquel 9.0 "Etiona"

Get the necessary software and kernel the sources

sudo apt-get build-dep linux linux-image-$(uname -r)

sudo apt-get install libncurses-dev flex bison openssl libssl-dev dkms libelf-dev libudev-dev libpci-dev libiberty-dev autoconf

apt-get source linux-image-$(uname -r)

*optional - also install lzop if you want to build a kernel compressed in lzo - sudo apt install lzop

Once done, to create a static no modular and minimalist kernel enter into the source directory and then run

make localmodconfig

this will load only the necessary modules to your system excluding any further hardware.

Now what you need to do to make it static is to change some settings in the config file

run

make menuconfig

at this point you need to find and chenge the following options inside your kernel configuration:

On General setup:

*Optional - kernel compression mode - select lzo and add a name in "local version" and "signature"

*Optional Support for paging of anonymous memory (swap) - I have disabled as I don't use any swap

Initial RAM filesystem and RAM disk (initramfs/initrd) support - needs to be disabled, this is necesary to build it static so we don't use any initramfs/initrd at the system boot

Now get out of the "General Setup" and go back on the first menu

The option right after is "Enable loadable module support" - this needs to be disabled (we won't load any modules as we build it static)

*Optional - on Processor type and features- Processor family - select your type (if 2duo, i3,i5,i7 just select Core 2/newer Xeon)

*Optional - on kernel Hacking - Compile-time checks and compiler options - untick Compile the kernel with debug info (if ticked it can increase the size of the new kernel)

*Optional - on Device Drivers - Graphics support tick the Bootup logo if you wish to see penguins at the boot up (I do)

All done!

Now exit saving the configuration and lest start compiling

On my thinkpad t400 I did:

make -j3 deb-pkg

The recompilation takes a while and at the end you will get all the necessary packages to install the new kernel

Install the kernel image, headers and the firmware debs using gdebi or sudo dpkg -i "name .deb"

Reboot your system, you will see that no initramfs will be prompted by grub and you will start the kernel without loading the modules.
Enjoy the penguins! the number of penguin will depend on the number of your CPUs

Ps: don't delete the original kernel it can be useful!!
For example if adding a usb drive you see that it doesn't work.. keep in mind you are on a static kernel so you cannot load any module, if you wish to use it.. just boot the previous kernel!

See here the final results on my t400 and my x220