[question]: Creating tailored image without standard rootfs files?

Hello,

I basically want to be able to build an ext4 image for an extra partition
that is not a rootfs.

So I don't need the kernel, or /run /var /etc folders or anything like that.
Just a few packages are needed, but with a QT app on that partition, loads
of dependencies are pulled in and I end up with +80 entries in the manifest.

This was asked 10 years ago, but I still have the same issue now.
https://docs.yoctoproject.org/pipermail/yocto/2013-March/012804.html

This image would then be used by wic as well as swupdate, as a non-root
partition.
Are there some tweaks to actually build an image without pulling in
everything needed for a rootfs*?
I tried making my own tweaked version of image.bbclass, but I got lost in
the abstraction.


*) Building a basic container-test-image with a linux-dummy still has all
the folders /bin /boot /dev /etc /home /lib /media /mnt /proc /run /sbin
/sys /tmp /usr /var
and +20 entries in the manifest (17MB of stuff), just for a 12KB binary
(/usr/bin/theapp).

--
Regards
Einar Jón