From 6889c8c0a48e2b9f7252e4627bad3c310d3e2f64 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Ricardo Pardini <ricardo@pardini.net>
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2026 02:07:14 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] drop `find_toolchains`, `SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS` and all
 `$toolchain` `PATH` injections

- we've had SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS=yes for ~5 years now
- drop all usages, mostly through `find_toolchains()`
- drop all manual PATH env injections (we've centralized if ever needed)
---
 config/sources/amd64.conf                     |  1 -
 config/sources/arm64.conf                     |  4 +-
 config/sources/armhf.conf                     |  4 +-
 config/sources/families/jethub.conf           | 24 ++----
 config/sources/families/mvebu64.conf          |  6 +-
 config/sources/loong64.conf                   |  1 -
 config/sources/riscv64.conf                   |  1 -
 lib/functions/compilation/atf.sh              | 22 +----
 lib/functions/compilation/crust.sh            | 16 +---
 lib/functions/compilation/kernel-make.sh      |  4 +-
 lib/functions/compilation/uboot.sh            | 32 ++-----
 .../compilation/utils-compilation.sh          | 83 -------------------
 lib/functions/configuration/main-config.sh    |  1 -
 lib/functions/host/external-toolchains.sh     | 77 -----------------
 lib/functions/host/prepare-host.sh            |  5 --
 15 files changed, 27 insertions(+), 254 deletions(-)
 delete mode 100644 lib/functions/host/external-toolchains.sh

diff --git a/config/sources/amd64.conf b/config/sources/amd64.conf
index de31b4c0a3..568fb68667 100644
--- a/config/sources/amd64.conf
+++ b/config/sources/amd64.conf
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ declare -g KERNEL_INSTALL_TYPE="${KERNEL_INSTALL_TYPE:-"install"}"
 if [[ "$(uname -m)" == "aarch64" ]]; then
 	# Allow building amd64 on aarch64, but using system toolchain only
 	declare -g KERNEL_COMPILER="x86_64-linux-gnu-"
-	declare -g SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS=yes
 	declare -g UBOOT_COMPILER='x86_64-linux-gnu-'
 fi
 
diff --git a/config/sources/arm64.conf b/config/sources/arm64.conf
index d6ff527ed6..d0989a150d 100644
--- a/config/sources/arm64.conf
+++ b/config/sources/arm64.conf
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ fi
 [[ $ATF_COMPILE != "no" && -z $ATF_USE_GCC ]] && ATF_USE_GCC='> 8.0'
 
 # System toolchains don't have the -none- variant, remove it
-[[ "${SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS}" == "yes" ]] && UBOOT_COMPILER="${UBOOT_COMPILER//-none-/-}"
-[[ "${SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS}" == "yes" ]] && ATF_COMPILER="${ATF_COMPILER//-none-/-}"
+UBOOT_COMPILER="${UBOOT_COMPILER//-none-/-}"
+ATF_COMPILER="${ATF_COMPILER//-none-/-}"
 
 true # make sure to exit with 0 status; this protects against shortcircuits etc above.
diff --git a/config/sources/armhf.conf b/config/sources/armhf.conf
index 37e630fdb2..2798e22fe9 100644
--- a/config/sources/armhf.conf
+++ b/config/sources/armhf.conf
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ else
 fi
 
 # System toolchains don't have the -none- variant, remove it
-[[ "${SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS}" == "yes" ]] && UBOOT_COMPILER="${UBOOT_COMPILER//-none-/-}"
-[[ "${SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS}" == "yes" ]] && ATF_COMPILER="${ATF_COMPILER//-none-/-}"
+UBOOT_COMPILER="${UBOOT_COMPILER//-none-/-}"
+ATF_COMPILER="${ATF_COMPILER//-none-/-}"
 
 true # make sure to exit with 0 status; this protects against shortcircuits etc above.
diff --git a/config/sources/families/jethub.conf b/config/sources/families/jethub.conf
index 481ae65f06..60835d3b3a 100644
--- a/config/sources/families/jethub.conf
+++ b/config/sources/families/jethub.conf
@@ -140,21 +140,15 @@ comment_default_rsyslog_rules() {
 
 buildjethomecmds() {
 	local toolchain
-	# build aarch64 in amd64
-	if [[ $(dpkg --print-architecture) == amd64 ]]; then
 
-		toolchain=$(find_toolchain "$UBOOT_COMPILER" "$UBOOT_USE_GCC")
-		[[ -z $toolchain ]] && exit_with_error "Could not find required toolchain" "${UBOOT_COMPILER}gcc $UBOOT_USE_GCC"
-	fi
-
-	display_alert "Compiler version" "${UBOOT_COMPILER}gcc $(eval env PATH="${toolchain}:${PATH}" "${UBOOT_COMPILER}gcc" -dumpversion)" "info"
+	display_alert "Compiler version" "${UBOOT_COMPILER}gcc $(eval env "${UBOOT_COMPILER}gcc" -dumpversion)" "info"
 
 	local gpp="${UBOOT_COMPILER}g++"
 	local gpp_options="-Os -s -Wall -Wextra -std=c++17 -I$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub"
 	local gcc="${UBOOT_COMPILER}gcc"
 
-	run_host_command_logged env PATH="${toolchain}:${PATH}" "$gpp" $gpp_options "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/jethub_get_cmdline_key.cpp" -o "$destination/usr/bin/jethub_get_cmdline_key" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_get_cmdline_key.cpp"
-	run_host_command_logged env PATH="${toolchain}:${PATH}" "$gpp" $gpp_options "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/jethub_get_cmdline_key_cpuid.cpp" -o "$destination/usr/bin/jethub_get_cpuid" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_get_cmdline_key_cpuid.cpp"
+	run_host_command_logged env "$gpp" $gpp_options "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/jethub_get_cmdline_key.cpp" -o "$destination/usr/bin/jethub_get_cmdline_key" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_get_cmdline_key.cpp"
+	run_host_command_logged env "$gpp" $gpp_options "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/jethub_get_cmdline_key_cpuid.cpp" -o "$destination/usr/bin/jethub_get_cpuid" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_get_cmdline_key_cpuid.cpp"
 
 	if [[ "$BOARD" == "jethubj80" ]]; then
 		# Bluetooth
@@ -165,15 +159,15 @@ buildjethomecmds() {
 		run_host_command_logged install -m 755 "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/$BOARD/bluetooth/jethub-rtk-hciattach-starter" "$destination/usr/lib/armbian/" || exit_with_error "Unable to install jethub-rtk-hciattach-starter"
 
 		# Board eth led setup
-		run_host_command_logged env PATH="${toolchain}:${PATH}" "$gcc" "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/$BOARD/jethub_set_eth_leds.c" -o "$destination/usr/sbin/jethub_set-eth_leds" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_set_eth_leds.c"
+		run_host_command_logged "$gcc" "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/$BOARD/jethub_set_eth_leds.c" -o "$destination/usr/sbin/jethub_set-eth_leds" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_set_eth_leds.c"
 		# Board identifiers
-		run_host_command_logged env PATH="${toolchain}:${PATH}" "$gpp" $gpp_options "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/$BOARD/jethub_get_efuse_raw_key.cpp" -o "$destination/usr/bin/jethub_get_efuse_raw_key" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_get_efuse_raw_key.cpp"
-		run_host_command_logged env PATH="${toolchain}:${PATH}" "$gpp" $gpp_options "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/$BOARD/jethub_get_efuse_key_mac.cpp" -o "$destination/usr/bin/jethub_get_mac" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_get_efuse_key_mac.cpp"
-		run_host_command_logged env PATH="${toolchain}:${PATH}" "$gpp" $gpp_options "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/$BOARD/jethub_get_efuse_key_serial.cpp" -o "$destination/usr/bin/jethub_get_serial" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_get_efuse_key_serial.cpp"
-		run_host_command_logged env PATH="${toolchain}:${PATH}" "$gpp" $gpp_options "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/$BOARD/jethub_get_efuse_key_usid.cpp" -o "$destination/usr/bin/jethub_get_usid" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_get_efuse_key_usid.cpp"
+		run_host_command_logged "$gpp" $gpp_options "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/$BOARD/jethub_get_efuse_raw_key.cpp" -o "$destination/usr/bin/jethub_get_efuse_raw_key" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_get_efuse_raw_key.cpp"
+		run_host_command_logged "$gpp" $gpp_options "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/$BOARD/jethub_get_efuse_key_mac.cpp" -o "$destination/usr/bin/jethub_get_mac" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_get_efuse_key_mac.cpp"
+		run_host_command_logged "$gpp" $gpp_options "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/$BOARD/jethub_get_efuse_key_serial.cpp" -o "$destination/usr/bin/jethub_get_serial" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_get_efuse_key_serial.cpp"
+		run_host_command_logged "$gpp" $gpp_options "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/$BOARD/jethub_get_efuse_key_usid.cpp" -o "$destination/usr/bin/jethub_get_usid" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_get_efuse_key_usid.cpp"
 	elif [[ "$BOARD" == "jethubj100" ]]; then
 		# Board identifiers
-		run_host_command_logged env PATH="${toolchain}:${PATH}" "$gpp" $gpp_options "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/$BOARD/jethub_get_cmdline_key_mac.cpp" -o "$destination/usr/bin/jethub_get_mac" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_get_cmdline_key_mac.cpp"
+		run_host_command_logged "$gpp" $gpp_options "$SRC/packages/bsp/jethub/$BOARD/jethub_get_cmdline_key_mac.cpp" -o "$destination/usr/bin/jethub_get_mac" || exit_with_error "Unable to compile jethub_get_cmdline_key_mac.cpp"
 
 		# Wifi & Bluetooth
 		run_host_command_logged mkdir -pv --mode=755 "$destination/lib/firmware/" || exit_with_error "Unable to mkdir firmware"
diff --git a/config/sources/families/mvebu64.conf b/config/sources/families/mvebu64.conf
index df6356609d..5818c9437e 100644
--- a/config/sources/families/mvebu64.conf
+++ b/config/sources/families/mvebu64.conf
@@ -31,11 +31,7 @@ declare -g ATFDIR='arm-trusted-firmware-espressobin'
 declare -g ATFBRANCH='tag:lts-v2.12.8'
 declare -g ATF_USE_GCC='> 7.2'
 
-if [[ "${SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS}" == "yes" ]]; then
-	ATF_COMPILER='aarch64-linux-gnu-'
-else
-	ATF_COMPILER='aarch64-none-linux-gnu-'
-fi
+ATF_COMPILER='aarch64-linux-gnu-'
 
 if [[ $BOARD = macchiatobin-doubleshot ]]; then
 	export SCP_BL2=$SRC/cache/sources/marvell-binaries/mrvl_scp_bl2.img # ATTENTION! This is actually a required 'export', since it's picked up by ATF's make.
diff --git a/config/sources/loong64.conf b/config/sources/loong64.conf
index abdf51ff95..3a2381bf3c 100644
--- a/config/sources/loong64.conf
+++ b/config/sources/loong64.conf
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ declare -g ARCH='loong64'
 declare -g ARCHITECTURE='loongarch'
 declare -g QEMU_BINARY='qemu-loongarch64-static'
 declare -g IMAGE_PARTITION_TABLE='gpt'
-declare -g SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS='yes'
 declare -g KERNEL_SRC_ARCH='loongarch'
 
 # Linux root has a different Type-UUID for every architecture
diff --git a/config/sources/riscv64.conf b/config/sources/riscv64.conf
index 636db2a1ed..63a1e36845 100644
--- a/config/sources/riscv64.conf
+++ b/config/sources/riscv64.conf
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ declare -g ARCHITECTURE='riscv'
 declare -g KERNEL_SRC_ARCH='riscv'
 declare -g QEMU_BINARY='qemu-riscv64-static'
 declare -g IMAGE_PARTITION_TABLE='gpt'
-declare -g SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS='yes'
 
 # Linux root has a different Type-UUID for every architecture
 # See https://uapi-group.org/specifications/specs/discoverable_partitions_specification/
diff --git a/lib/functions/compilation/atf.sh b/lib/functions/compilation/atf.sh
index 850d783d65..c8184037f7 100644
--- a/lib/functions/compilation/atf.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/compilation/atf.sh
@@ -31,25 +31,7 @@ compile_atf() {
 
 	display_alert "Compiling ATF" "" "info"
 
-	# build aarch64
-	if [[ $(dpkg --print-architecture) == amd64 ]]; then
-
-		local toolchain
-		toolchain=$(find_toolchain "$ATF_COMPILER" "$ATF_USE_GCC")
-		[[ -z $toolchain ]] && exit_with_error "Could not find required toolchain" "${ATF_COMPILER}gcc $ATF_USE_GCC"
-
-		if [[ -n $ATF_TOOLCHAIN2 ]]; then
-			local toolchain2_type toolchain2_ver toolchain2
-			toolchain2_type=$(cut -d':' -f1 <<< "${ATF_TOOLCHAIN2}")
-			toolchain2_ver=$(cut -d':' -f2 <<< "${ATF_TOOLCHAIN2}")
-			toolchain2=$(find_toolchain "$toolchain2_type" "$toolchain2_ver")
-			[[ -z $toolchain2 ]] && exit_with_error "Could not find required toolchain" "${toolchain2_type}gcc $toolchain2_ver"
-		fi
-
-		# build aarch64
-	fi
-
-	display_alert "Compiler version" "${ATF_COMPILER}gcc $(eval env PATH="${toolchain}:${PATH}" "${ATF_COMPILER}gcc" -dumpfullversion -dumpversion)" "info"
+	display_alert "Compiler version" "${ATF_COMPILER}gcc $(eval env "${ATF_COMPILER}gcc" -dumpfullversion -dumpversion)" "info"
 
 	local target_make target_patchdir target_files
 	target_make=$(cut -d';' -f1 <<< "${ATF_TARGET_MAP}")
@@ -101,7 +83,7 @@ compile_atf() {
 
 	# - ENABLE_BACKTRACE="0" has been added to workaround a regression in ATF. Check: https://github.com/armbian/build/issues/1157
 
-	run_host_command_logged "CROSS_COMPILE='ccache ${ATF_COMPILER}'" CCACHE_BASEDIR="$(pwd)" "CC='ccache ${ATF_COMPILER}gcc'" PATH="${toolchain}:${toolchain2}:${PATH}" \
+	run_host_command_logged "CROSS_COMPILE='ccache ${ATF_COMPILER}'" CCACHE_BASEDIR="$(pwd)" "CC='ccache ${ATF_COMPILER}gcc'" \
 		"CFLAGS='-fdiagnostics-color=always -Wno-error=attributes -Wno-error=incompatible-pointer-types'" \
 		"TF_LDFLAGS='${binutils_flags_atf}'" \
 		make ENABLE_BACKTRACE="0" LOG_LEVEL="40" BUILD_STRING="armbian" $target_make "${CTHREADS}"
diff --git a/lib/functions/compilation/crust.sh b/lib/functions/compilation/crust.sh
index 16a03db895..d88a1dbeb7 100644
--- a/lib/functions/compilation/crust.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/compilation/crust.sh
@@ -31,15 +31,7 @@ compile_crust() {
 
 	display_alert "Compiling Crust" "" "info"
 
-	# build aarch64
-	if [[ $(dpkg --print-architecture) == amd64 ]]; then
-
-		local toolchain
-		toolchain=$(find_toolchain "$CRUST_COMPILER" "$CRUST_USE_GCC")
-		[[ -z $toolchain ]] && exit_with_error "Could not find required toolchain" "${CRUST_COMPILER}gcc $CRUST_USE_GCC"
-	fi
-
-	display_alert "Compiler version" "${CRUST_COMPILER}gcc $(eval env PATH="${toolchain}:${PATH}" "${CRUST_COMPILER}gcc" -dumpfullversion -dumpversion)" "info"
+	display_alert "Compiler version" "${CRUST_COMPILER}gcc $(eval env "${CRUST_COMPILER}gcc" -dumpfullversion -dumpversion)" "info"
 
 	local target_make target_patchdir target_files
 	target_make=$(cut -d';' -f1 <<< "${CRUST_TARGET_MAP}")
@@ -55,14 +47,14 @@ compile_crust() {
 	fi
 
 	declare binutils_version binutils_flags_crust=""
-	binutils_version=$(env PATH="${toolchain}:${PATH}" or1k-elf-ld.bfd --version | head -1 | cut -d ")" -f 2 | xargs echo -n)
+	binutils_version=$(env or1k-elf-ld.bfd --version | head -1 | cut -d ")" -f 2 | xargs echo -n)
 	display_alert "Binutils version for Crust" "${binutils_version}" "info"
 
-	run_host_command_logged CCACHE_BASEDIR="$(pwd)" PATH="${toolchain}:${toolchain2}:${PATH}" \
+	run_host_command_logged CCACHE_BASEDIR="$(pwd)" \
 		"CFLAGS='-fdiagnostics-color=always -Wno-error=attributes -Wno-error=incompatible-pointer-types'" \
 		make ${CRUSTCONFIG} "${CTHREADS}" "CROSS_COMPILE='$CCACHE $CRUST_COMPILER'"
 
-	run_host_command_logged CCACHE_BASEDIR="$(pwd)" PATH="${toolchain}:${toolchain2}:${PATH}" \
+	run_host_command_logged CCACHE_BASEDIR="$(pwd)" \
 		"CFLAGS='-fdiagnostics-color=always -Wno-error=attributes -Wno-error=incompatible-pointer-types'" \
 		make $target_make "${CTHREADS}" "CROSS_COMPILE='$CCACHE $CRUST_COMPILER'"
 
diff --git a/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-make.sh b/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-make.sh
index 383afae85b..e7da5ad15a 100644
--- a/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-make.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-make.sh
@@ -101,8 +101,6 @@ function kernel_determine_toolchain() {
 		display_alert "Native compilation" "target ${ARCH} on host $(dpkg --print-architecture)"
 	else
 		display_alert "Cross compilation" "target ${ARCH} on host $(dpkg --print-architecture)"
-		toolchain=$(find_toolchain "$KERNEL_COMPILER" "$KERNEL_USE_GCC")
-		[[ -z $toolchain ]] && exit_with_error "Could not find required toolchain" "${KERNEL_COMPILER}gcc $KERNEL_USE_GCC"
 	fi
 
 	if [[ "${KERNEL_COMPILER}" == "clang" ]]; then
@@ -110,6 +108,6 @@ function kernel_determine_toolchain() {
 	else
 		KERNEL_COMPILER_FULL="${KERNEL_COMPILER}gcc"
 	fi
-	kernel_compiler_version="$(eval env PATH="${toolchain}:${PATH}" "${KERNEL_COMPILER_FULL}" -dumpfullversion -dumpversion)"
+	kernel_compiler_version="$(eval env "${KERNEL_COMPILER_FULL}" -dumpfullversion -dumpversion)"
 	display_alert "Compiler version" "${KERNEL_COMPILER_FULL} ${kernel_compiler_version}" "info"
 }
diff --git a/lib/functions/compilation/uboot.sh b/lib/functions/compilation/uboot.sh
index 4731c68a3d..6bc9ded9e3 100644
--- a/lib/functions/compilation/uboot.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/compilation/uboot.sh
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ function patch_uboot_target() {
 	fi
 }
 
-# this receives version  target uboot_name uboottempdir uboot_target_counter toolchain as variables.
+# this receives version  target uboot_name uboottempdir uboot_target_counter as variables.
 # also receives uboot_prefix, target_make, target_patchdir, target_files as input
 function compile_uboot_target() {
 	: "${artifact_version:?artifact_version is not set}"
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ function compile_uboot_target() {
 
 	display_alert "${uboot_prefix}Preparing u-boot config '${BOOTCONFIG}'" "${version} ${target_make}" "info"
 	declare -g if_error_detail_message="${uboot_prefix}Failed to configure u-boot ${version} $BOOTCONFIG ${target_make}"
-	run_host_command_logged CCACHE_BASEDIR="$(pwd)" PATH="${toolchain}:${toolchain2}:${PATH}" \
+	run_host_command_logged CCACHE_BASEDIR="$(pwd)" \
 		"KCFLAGS=-fdiagnostics-color=always" \
 		pipetty make "${CTHREADS}" "${BOOTCONFIG}" "CROSS_COMPILE=\"${CCACHE} ${UBOOT_COMPILER}\""
 
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ function compile_uboot_target() {
 			# CONFIG_ERRNO_STR is not set
 		EXTRA_UBOOT_DEBUG_CONFIGS
 
-		run_host_command_logged CCACHE_BASEDIR="$(pwd)" PATH="${toolchain}:${toolchain2}:${PATH}" \
+		run_host_command_logged CCACHE_BASEDIR="$(pwd)" \
 			"KCFLAGS=-fdiagnostics-color=always" \
 			pipetty make "olddefconfig" "CROSS_COMPILE=\"$CCACHE $UBOOT_COMPILER\""
 
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ function compile_uboot_target() {
 
 	# make olddefconfig, so changes made in hook above are consolidated
 	display_alert "${uboot_prefix}Updating u-boot config with olddefconfig" "${version} ${target_make}" "info"
-	run_host_command_logged CCACHE_BASEDIR="$(pwd)" PATH="${toolchain}:${toolchain2}:${PATH}" \
+	run_host_command_logged CCACHE_BASEDIR="$(pwd)" \
 		"KCFLAGS=-fdiagnostics-color=always" \
 		pipetty make "${CTHREADS}" "olddefconfig" "CROSS_COMPILE=\"${CCACHE} ${UBOOT_COMPILER}\""
 
@@ -240,13 +240,10 @@ function compile_uboot_target() {
 		"CFLAGS='${uboot_cflags}'"
 		"KCFLAGS='${uboot_cflags}'"
 		"CCACHE_BASEDIR=$(pwd)"
-		"PATH=${toolchain}:${toolchain2}:${PATH}"
 		"PYTHONPATH=\"${PYTHON3_INFO[MODULES_PATH]}:${PYTHONPATH}\"" # Insert the pip modules downloaded by Armbian into PYTHONPATH (needed e.g. for pyelftools)
 	)
 
-	# workaround when two compilers are needed
 	cross_compile="CROSS_COMPILE=\"$CCACHE $UBOOT_COMPILER\""
-	[[ -n $UBOOT_TOOLCHAIN2 ]] && cross_compile="ARMBIAN=foe" # empty parameter is not allowed
 
 	display_alert "${uboot_prefix}Compiling u-boot" "${version} ${target_make} with gcc '${gcc_version_main}'" "info"
 	declare -g if_error_detail_message="${uboot_prefix}Failed to build u-boot ${version} ${target_make}"
@@ -334,7 +331,7 @@ function loop_over_uboot_targets_and_do() {
 		eval "${_old_nullglob}"
 
 		IFS="${_old_ifs}" # restore for the body of loop
-		declare -g target uboot_name uboottempdir toolchain version
+		declare -g target uboot_name uboottempdir version
 		declare -g uboot_prefix="{u-boot:${uboot_target_counter}} "
 		declare -g target_make target_patchdir target_files
 		target_make=$(cut -d';' -f1 <<< "${target}")
@@ -409,26 +406,9 @@ function compile_uboot() {
 
 	display_alert "Compiling u-boot" "$version ${ubootdir}" "info"
 
-	# build aarch64
-	if [[ $(dpkg --print-architecture) == amd64 ]]; then
-		local toolchain
-		toolchain=$(find_toolchain "$UBOOT_COMPILER" "$UBOOT_USE_GCC")
-		[[ -z $toolchain ]] && exit_with_error "Could not find required toolchain" "${UBOOT_COMPILER}gcc $UBOOT_USE_GCC"
-
-		if [[ -n $UBOOT_TOOLCHAIN2 ]]; then
-			local toolchain2_type toolchain2_ver toolchain2
-			toolchain2_type=$(cut -d':' -f1 <<< "${UBOOT_TOOLCHAIN2}")
-			toolchain2_ver=$(cut -d':' -f2 <<< "${UBOOT_TOOLCHAIN2}")
-			toolchain2=$(find_toolchain "$toolchain2_type" "$toolchain2_ver")
-			[[ -z $toolchain2 ]] && exit_with_error "Could not find required toolchain" "${toolchain2_type}gcc $toolchain2_ver"
-		fi
-		# build aarch64
-	fi
-
 	declare gcc_version_main
-	gcc_version_main="$(eval env PATH="${toolchain}:${toolchain2}:${PATH}" "${UBOOT_COMPILER}gcc" -dumpfullversion -dumpversion)"
+	gcc_version_main="$(eval env "${UBOOT_COMPILER}gcc" -dumpfullversion -dumpversion)"
 	display_alert "Compiler version" "${UBOOT_COMPILER}gcc '${gcc_version_main}'" "info"
-	[[ -n $toolchain2 ]] && display_alert "Additional compiler version" "${toolchain2_type}gcc $(eval env PATH="${toolchain}:${toolchain2}:${PATH}" "${toolchain2_type}gcc" -dumpfullversion -dumpversion)" "info"
 
 	local uboot_name="linux-u-boot-${BRANCH}-${BOARD}"
 
diff --git a/lib/functions/compilation/utils-compilation.sh b/lib/functions/compilation/utils-compilation.sh
index 96477dea1b..a01b2368db 100644
--- a/lib/functions/compilation/utils-compilation.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/compilation/utils-compilation.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 # compile_firmware
 # compile_xilinx_bootgen
 # grab_version
-# find_toolchain
 # advanced_patch
 # process_patch_file
 # overlayfs_wrapper
@@ -31,88 +30,6 @@ grab_version() {
 	return 0
 }
 
-# find_toolchain <compiler_prefix> <expression>
-#
-# returns path to toolchain that satisfies <expression>
-#
-find_toolchain() {
-	[[ "${SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS}" == "yes" ]] && {
-		echo "/usr/bin"
-		return
-	}
-
-	local compiler=$1
-	local expression=$2
-	local dist=10
-
-	display_alert "SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS=no, Searching for toolchain" "'${compiler}' '${expression}'" "warn"
-
-	local toolchain=""
-
-	# extract target major.minor version from expression
-	local target_ver
-	target_ver=$(grep -oE "[[:digit:]]+\.[[:digit:]]" <<< "$expression")
-	display_alert "Searching for toolchain" "'${compiler}' '${expression}': target_ver: '${target_ver}'" "debug"
-
-	for dir in "${SRC}"/cache/toolchain/*/; do
-		display_alert "Checking toolchain" "${dir}" "debug"
-		local gcc_bin="${dir}bin/${compiler}gcc"
-		# check if is a toolchain for current $ARCH
-		if [[ ! -f "${gcc_bin}" ]]; then
-			display_alert "Can't find compiler" "'${dir}' :: '${gcc_bin}" "debug"
-			continue
-		else
-			display_alert "Found compiler" "'${dir}' :: '${gcc_bin}" "debug"
-		fi
-
-		declare gcc_bin_info
-		gcc_bin_info="$(file "${gcc_bin}" || true)"
-
-		display_alert "Testing toolchain" "'${gcc_bin}': '${gcc_bin_info}'" "debug"
-
-		# get toolchain major.minor version
-		declare gcc_ver_simple
-		gcc_ver_simple="$("${gcc_bin}" -dumpversion 2>&1 || true)" # this might fail: toolchain can't run on current host
-
-		display_alert "Checking version" "'${gcc_ver_simple}' for '${gcc_bin}'" "debug"
-		if [[ "x${gcc_ver_simple}x" == "xx" ]]; then
-			display_alert "Can't obtain version" "'${gcc_bin}' for '${gcc_bin}': '${gcc_ver_simple}'" "debug"
-			continue
-		fi
-
-		declare gcc_ver
-		gcc_ver="$(echo "${gcc_ver_simple}" | grep -oE "^[[:digit:]]+\.[[:digit:]]" || true)" # this might fail to parse
-		if [[ "x${gcc_ver}x" == "xx" ]]; then
-			display_alert "Can't parse version" "'${gcc_bin}' for '${gcc_bin}': '${gcc_ver_simple}': '${gcc_ver}'" "debug"
-			continue
-		fi
-
-		display_alert "Found working toolchain" "'${gcc_bin}' gcc_ver_simple:'${gcc_ver_simple}' gcc_ver:'${gcc_ver}'" "debug"
-
-		# check if toolchain version satisfies requirement
-		if ! awk "BEGIN{exit ! ($gcc_ver $expression)}" > /dev/null; then
-			display_alert "Toolchain version" "'${gcc_bin}' '${gcc_ver}' doesn't satisfy '${expression}'" "debug"
-			continue
-		fi
-
-		# check if found version is the closest to target
-		# may need different logic here with more than 1 digit minor version numbers
-		# numbers: 3.9 > 3.10; versions: 3.9 < 3.10
-		# dpkg --compare-versions can be used here if operators are changed
-		declare d
-		d=$(awk '{x = $1 - $2}{printf "%.1f\n", (x > 0) ? x : -x}' <<< "$target_ver $gcc_ver")
-		if awk "BEGIN{exit ! ($d < $dist)}" > /dev/null; then
-			dist="$d"
-			toolchain="${dir}bin"
-			display_alert "Found toolchain" "'${gcc_bin}' ver:'${gcc_ver}' expression:'${expression}' dist:'${dist}'" "debug"
-		fi
-	done
-
-	display_alert "Using toolchain" "${toolchain}" "info"
-
-	echo "$toolchain"
-}
-
 # overlayfs_wrapper <operation> <workdir> <description>
 #
 # <operation>: wrap|cleanup
diff --git a/lib/functions/configuration/main-config.sh b/lib/functions/configuration/main-config.sh
index 758646bb6e..63b579f3db 100644
--- a/lib/functions/configuration/main-config.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/configuration/main-config.sh
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@ function do_main_configuration() {
 	DEST_LANG="${DEST_LANG:-"en_US.UTF-8"}"                                   # en_US.UTF-8 is default locale for target
 	display_alert "DEST_LANG..." "DEST_LANG: ${DEST_LANG}" "debug"
 
-	declare -g SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS="${SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS:-yes}" # don't use any external toolchains, by default.
 	declare -g USE_CCACHE="${USE_CCACHE:-no}"                              # stop using ccache as our worktree is more effective
 
 	# Armbian config is central tool used in all builds. As its build externally, we have moved it to extension. Enable it here.
diff --git a/lib/functions/host/external-toolchains.sh b/lib/functions/host/external-toolchains.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 638e699bd8..0000000000
--- a/lib/functions/host/external-toolchains.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,77 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-#
-# SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
-#
-# Copyright (c) 2013-2026 Igor Pecovnik, igor@armbian.com
-#
-# This file is a part of the Armbian Build Framework
-# https://github.com/armbian/build/
-
-# This is mostly deprecated, since SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS=yes by default.
-
-function download_external_toolchains() {
-	# build aarch64
-	if [[ $(dpkg --print-architecture) == amd64 ]]; then
-		if [[ "${SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS}" != "yes" ]]; then
-
-			# bind mount toolchain if defined
-			if [[ -d "${ARMBIAN_CACHE_TOOLCHAIN_PATH}" ]]; then
-				mountpoint -q "${SRC}"/cache/toolchain && umount -l "${SRC}"/cache/toolchain
-				mount --bind "${ARMBIAN_CACHE_TOOLCHAIN_PATH}" "${SRC}"/cache/toolchain
-			fi
-
-			display_alert "Checking for external GCC compilers" "" "info"
-			# download external Linaro compiler and missing special dependencies since they are needed for certain sources
-
-			local toolchains=(
-				"gcc-linaro-7.4.1-2019.02-x86_64_arm-linux-gnueabi.tar.xz"
-				"gcc-linaro-7.4.1-2019.02-x86_64_aarch64-linux-gnu.tar.xz"
-				"gcc-arm-8.3-2019.03-x86_64-arm-linux-gnueabihf.tar.xz"
-				"gcc-arm-8.3-2019.03-x86_64-aarch64-linux-gnu.tar.xz"
-				"gcc-arm-9.2-2019.12-x86_64-arm-none-linux-gnueabihf.tar.xz"
-				"gcc-arm-9.2-2019.12-x86_64-aarch64-none-linux-gnu.tar.xz"
-				"gcc-arm-11.2-2022.02-x86_64-arm-none-linux-gnueabihf.tar.xz"
-				"gcc-arm-11.2-2022.02-x86_64-aarch64-none-linux-gnu.tar.xz"
-			)
-
-			USE_TORRENT_STATUS=${USE_TORRENT}
-			USE_TORRENT="no"
-			for toolchain in "${toolchains[@]}"; do
-				local toolchain_zip="${SRC}/cache/toolchain/${toolchain}"
-				local toolchain_dir="${toolchain_zip%.tar.*}"
-				if [[ ! -f "${toolchain_dir}/.download-complete" ]]; then
-					download_and_verify "toolchain" "${toolchain}" ||
-						exit_with_error "Failed to download toolchain" "${toolchain}"
-
-					display_alert "decompressing"
-					pv -p -b -r -c -N "[ .... ] ${toolchain}" "${toolchain_zip}" |
-						xz -dc |
-						tar xp --xattrs --no-same-owner --overwrite -C "${SRC}/cache/toolchain/"
-					if [[ $? -ne 0 ]]; then
-						rm -rf "${toolchain_dir}"
-						exit_with_error "Failed to decompress toolchain" "${toolchain}"
-					fi
-
-					touch "${toolchain_dir}/.download-complete"
-					rm -rf "${toolchain_zip}"* # Also delete asc file
-				fi
-			done
-			USE_TORRENT=${USE_TORRENT_STATUS}
-
-			local existing_dirs=($(ls -1 "${SRC}"/cache/toolchain))
-			for dir in "${existing_dirs[@]}"; do
-				local found=no
-				for toolchain in "${toolchains[@]}"; do
-					# shellcheck disable=SC2053 # legacy code, won't fix
-					[[ $dir == ${toolchain%.tar.*} ]] && found=yes
-				done
-				if [[ $found == no ]]; then
-					display_alert "Removing obsolete toolchain" "$dir"
-					rm -rf "${SRC}/cache/toolchain/${dir}"
-				fi
-			done
-		else
-			display_alert "Ignoring toolchains" "SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS: ${SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS}" "info"
-		fi
-	fi
-}
diff --git a/lib/functions/host/prepare-host.sh b/lib/functions/host/prepare-host.sh
index c785fdd3e8..865a7e7f4d 100644
--- a/lib/functions/host/prepare-host.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/host/prepare-host.sh
@@ -97,11 +97,6 @@ function prepare_host_noninteractive() {
 	# @TODO: original: mkdir -p "${DEST}"/debs-beta/extra "${DEST}"/debs/extra "${DEST}"/{config,debug,patch} "${USERPATCHES_PATH}"/overlay "${SRC}"/cache/{sources,hash,hash-beta,toolchain,utility,rootfs} "${SRC}"/.tmp
 	mkdir -p "${USERPATCHES_PATH}"/overlay "${SRC}"/cache/{sources,rootfs} "${SRC}"/.tmp
 
-	# If offline, do not try to download/install toolchains.
-	if ! $offline; then
-		download_external_toolchains # Mostly deprecated, since SKIP_EXTERNAL_TOOLCHAINS=yes is the default
-	fi
-
 	prepare_host_binfmt_qemu # in qemu-static.sh as most binfmt/qemu logic is there now
 
 	# @TODO: rpardini: this does not belong here, instead with the other templates, pre-configuration.