diff --git a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-armbian-config.sh b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-armbian-config.sh
index 3b9e110b5..c3b156ce7 100644
--- a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-armbian-config.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-armbian-config.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
 # This file is a part of the Armbian Build Framework
 # https://github.com/armbian/build/
 
+function artifact_armbian-config_config_dump() {
+	artifact_input_variables[BUILD_MINIMAL]="${BUILD_MINIMAL}"
+}
+
 function artifact_armbian-config_prepare_version() {
 	artifact_version="undetermined"        # outer scope
 	artifact_version_reason="undetermined" # outer scope
diff --git a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-armbian-plymouth-theme.sh b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-armbian-plymouth-theme.sh
index d8ae8b401..df6fe2774 100644
--- a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-armbian-plymouth-theme.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-armbian-plymouth-theme.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@
 # This file is a part of the Armbian Build Framework
 # https://github.com/armbian/build/
 
+function artifact_armbian-plymouth-theme_config_dump() {
+	# artifact_input_variables: None, for armbian-plymouth-theme.
+	:
+}
+
 function artifact_armbian-plymouth-theme_prepare_version() {
 	artifact_version="undetermined"        # outer scope
 	artifact_version_reason="undetermined" # outer scope
diff --git a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-armbian-zsh.sh b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-armbian-zsh.sh
index 1f170580d..78d5229eb 100644
--- a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-armbian-zsh.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-armbian-zsh.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@
 # This file is a part of the Armbian Build Framework
 # https://github.com/armbian/build/
 
+function artifact_armbian-zsh_config_dump() {
+	# artifact_input_variables: None, for armbian-zsh.
+	:
+}
+
 function artifact_armbian-zsh_prepare_version() {
 	artifact_version="undetermined"        # outer scope
 	artifact_version_reason="undetermined" # outer scope
diff --git a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-fake-ubuntu-advantage-tools.sh b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-fake-ubuntu-advantage-tools.sh
index e425a3073..0ada08018 100644
--- a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-fake-ubuntu-advantage-tools.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-fake-ubuntu-advantage-tools.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@
 # This file is a part of the Armbian Build Framework
 # https://github.com/armbian/build/
 
+function artifact_fake_ubuntu_advantage_tools_config_dump() {
+	# artifact_input_variables: None, for fake ubuntu advantage.
+	:
+}
+
 function artifact_fake_ubuntu_advantage_tools_prepare_version() {
 	artifact_version="undetermined"        # outer scope
 	artifact_version_reason="undetermined" # outer scope
diff --git a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-firmware.sh b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-firmware.sh
index 185152958..6918039c2 100644
--- a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-firmware.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-firmware.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@
 # This file is a part of the Armbian Build Framework
 # https://github.com/armbian/build/
 
+function artifact_firmware_config_dump() {
+	# artifact_input_variables: None, for firmware.
+	:
+}
+
 function artifact_firmware_prepare_version() {
 	artifact_version="undetermined"        # outer scope
 	artifact_version_reason="undetermined" # outer scope
diff --git a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-full_firmware.sh b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-full_firmware.sh
index 3aa85c22c..bedd60c93 100644
--- a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-full_firmware.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-full_firmware.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@
 # This file is a part of the Armbian Build Framework
 # https://github.com/armbian/build/
 
+function artifact_full_firmware_config_dump() {
+	# artifact_input_variables: None, for firmware.
+	:
+}
+
 function artifact_full_firmware_prepare_version() {
 	artifact_version="undetermined"        # outer scope
 	artifact_version_reason="undetermined" # outer scope
diff --git a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-kernel.sh b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-kernel.sh
index f7982474b..75f5b1f21 100644
--- a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-kernel.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-kernel.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,16 @@
 # This file is a part of the Armbian Build Framework
 # https://github.com/armbian/build/
 
+function artifact_kernel_config_dump() {
+	# BOARD is NOT included. See explanation below.
+	artifact_input_variables[LINUXFAMILY]="${LINUXFAMILY}"
+	artifact_input_variables[BRANCH]="${BRANCH}"
+	artifact_input_variables[KERNEL_MAJOR_MINOR]="${KERNEL_MAJOR_MINOR}"
+	artifact_input_variables[KERNELSOURCE]="${KERNELSOURCE}"
+	artifact_input_variables[KERNELBRANCH]="${KERNELBRANCH}"
+	artifact_input_variables[KERNELPATCHDIR]="${KERNELPATCHDIR}"
+}
+
 # This is run in a logging section.
 # Prepare the version, "sans-repos": just the armbian/build repo contents are available.
 # It is OK to reach out to the internet for a curl or ls-remote, but not for a git clone, but
diff --git a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-rootfs.sh b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-rootfs.sh
index 11bd041a7..a1f5a4278 100644
--- a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-rootfs.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-rootfs.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@
 # This file is a part of the Armbian Build Framework
 # https://github.com/armbian/build/
 
+function artifact_rootfs_config_dump() {
+	artifact_input_variables[ARCH]="${ARCH}"
+	artifact_input_variables[RELEASE]="${RELEASE}"
+	artifact_input_variables[CACHE_TYPE]="${cache_type:-"no_cache_type_yet"}"
+}
+
 function artifact_rootfs_prepare_version() {
 	artifact_version="undetermined"        # outer scope
 	artifact_version_reason="undetermined" # outer scope
diff --git a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-uboot.sh b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-uboot.sh
index 16b1c5fc3..78e7773f6 100644
--- a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-uboot.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifact-uboot.sh
@@ -7,6 +7,14 @@
 # This file is a part of the Armbian Build Framework
 # https://github.com/armbian/build/
 
+function artifact_uboot_config_dump() {
+	artifact_input_variables[BOOTSOURCE]="${BOOTSOURCE}"
+	artifact_input_variables[BOOTBRANCH]="${BOOTBRANCH}"
+	artifact_input_variables[BOOTPATCHDIR]="${BOOTPATCHDIR}"
+	artifact_input_variables[BOARD]="${BOARD}"
+	artifact_input_variables[BRANCH]="${BRANCH}"
+}
+
 function artifact_uboot_prepare_version() {
 	artifact_version="undetermined"        # outer scope
 	artifact_version_reason="undetermined" # outer scope
diff --git a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifacts-obtain.sh b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifacts-obtain.sh
index be09ea9dc..71fb73257 100644
--- a/lib/functions/artifacts/artifacts-obtain.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/artifacts/artifacts-obtain.sh
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 function create_artifact_functions() {
 	declare -a funcs=(
 		"cli_adapter_pre_run" "cli_adapter_config_prep"
+		"config_dump"
 		"prepare_version"
 		"get_default_oci_target"
 		"is_available_in_local_cache" "is_available_in_remote_cache" "obtain_from_remote_cache"
@@ -215,6 +216,27 @@ function obtain_complete_artifact() {
 	fi
 }
 
+function dump_artifact_config() {
+	initialize_artifact "${WHAT}"
+
+	declare -A -g artifact_input_variables=()
+	debug_dict artifact_input_variables
+
+	artifact_config_dump
+
+	debug_dict artifact_input_variables
+
+	# loop over the keys
+	declare -a concat
+	for key in "${!artifact_input_variables[@]}"; do
+		# echo the key and its value
+		concat+=("${key}=${artifact_input_variables[${key}]}")
+	done
+
+	declare -g artifact_input_vars="${concat[*]@Q}" # @Q to quote
+
+}
+
 # This is meant to be run after config, inside default build.
 function build_artifact_for_image() {
 	initialize_artifact "${WHAT}"
diff --git a/lib/functions/cli/cli-configdump.sh b/lib/functions/cli/cli-configdump.sh
index bfb323742..93e94530d 100644
--- a/lib/functions/cli/cli-configdump.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/cli/cli-configdump.sh
@@ -23,7 +23,37 @@ function cli_config_dump_json_run() {
 
 function config_board_and_remove_useless() {
 	skip_host_config=yes use_board=yes skip_kernel=no do_logging=no prep_conf_main_minimal_ni # avoid logging during configdump; it's useless; skip host config
+	determine_artifacts_needed_and_its_inputs_for_configdump
+
+	# Remove unwanted variables from the config dump JSON.
 	unset FINALDEST
 	unset DEB_STORAGE
 	unset ROOTPWD
 }
+
+function determine_artifacts_needed_and_its_inputs_for_configdump() {
+	# Determine which artifacts to build.
+	declare -a artifacts_to_build=()
+	determine_artifacts_to_build_for_image
+	display_alert "Artifacts to build:" "${artifacts_to_build[*]}" "info"
+
+	# For each artifact, get the input variables from each.
+	declare -a all_wanted_artifact_names=() all_wanted_artifact_vars=()
+	declare one_artifact one_artifact_package
+	for one_artifact in "${artifacts_to_build[@]}"; do
+		declare -g artifact_input_vars
+
+		WHAT="${one_artifact}" dump_artifact_config
+
+		declare WHAT_UPPERCASE="${one_artifact^^}"
+		declare WHAT_UPPERCASE_REPLACED="${WHAT_UPPERCASE//[-.]/_}"
+
+		all_wanted_artifact_names+=("${one_artifact}")
+		all_wanted_artifact_vars+=("${WHAT_UPPERCASE_REPLACED}")
+
+		eval "declare -r -g WANT_ARTIFACT_${WHAT_UPPERCASE_REPLACED}_INPUTS_ARRAY=\"${artifact_input_vars}\""
+	done
+
+	declare -r -g WANT_ARTIFACT_ALL_NAMES_ARRAY="${all_wanted_artifact_names[*]}"
+	declare -r -g WANT_ARTIFACT_ALL_ARRAY="${all_wanted_artifact_vars[*]}"
+}
diff --git a/lib/functions/main/build-packages.sh b/lib/functions/main/build-packages.sh
index 08fc0ff51..33373f11c 100644
--- a/lib/functions/main/build-packages.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/main/build-packages.sh
@@ -6,9 +6,56 @@
 #
 # This file is a part of the Armbian Build Framework
 # https://github.com/armbian/build/
+function determine_artifacts_to_build_for_image() {
+	# outer scope: declare -a artifacts_to_build=()
+	if [[ "${BOOTCONFIG}" != "none" ]]; then
+		artifacts_to_build+=("uboot")
+	fi
+	if [[ -n $KERNELSOURCE ]]; then
+		artifacts_to_build+=("kernel")
+	fi
+
+	if [[ "${INSTALL_ARMBIAN_FIRMWARE:-yes}" == "yes" ]]; then
+		if [[ ${BOARD_FIRMWARE_INSTALL:-""} == "-full" ]]; then
+			artifacts_to_build+=("full_firmware")
+		else
+			artifacts_to_build+=("firmware")
+		fi
+	fi
+
+	if [[ "${DISTRIBUTION}" == "Ubuntu" ]]; then
+		artifacts_to_build+=("fake_ubuntu_advantage_tools")
+	fi
+
+	if [[ "${PACKAGE_LIST_RM}" != *armbian-config* ]]; then
+		if [[ $BUILD_MINIMAL != yes ]]; then
+			artifacts_to_build+=("armbian-config")
+		fi
+	fi
+
+	if [[ "${PACKAGE_LIST_RM}" != *armbian-zsh* ]]; then
+		if [[ $BUILD_MINIMAL != yes ]]; then
+			artifacts_to_build+=("armbian-zsh")
+		fi
+	fi
+
+	if [[ $PLYMOUTH == yes ]]; then
+		artifacts_to_build+=("armbian-plymouth-theme")
+	fi
+
+	if [[ -n "${RELEASE}" ]]; then
+		# Further packages require aggregation
+		assert_requires_aggregation
+
+			artifacts_to_build+=("armbian-bsp-cli")
+			if [[ -n "${DESKTOP_ENVIRONMENT}" ]]; then
+				artifacts_to_build+=("armbian-desktop")
+				artifacts_to_build+=("armbian-bsp-desktop")
+			fi
+	fi
+}
 
 function main_default_build_packages() {
-
 	# early cleaning for sources, since fetch_and_build_host_tools() uses it.
 	if [[ "${CLEAN_LEVEL}" == *sources* ]]; then
 		LOG_SECTION="cleaning_early_sources" do_with_logging general_cleaning "sources"
@@ -27,38 +74,7 @@ function main_default_build_packages() {
 
 	# determine which artifacts to build.
 	declare -a artifacts_to_build=()
-	if [[ "${BOOTCONFIG}" != "none" ]]; then
-		artifacts_to_build+=("uboot")
-	fi
-	if [[ -n $KERNELSOURCE ]]; then
-		artifacts_to_build+=("kernel")
-	fi
-
-	if [[ "${INSTALL_ARMBIAN_FIRMWARE:-yes}" == "yes" ]]; then
-		if [[ ${BOARD_FIRMWARE_INSTALL:-""} == "-full" ]]; then
-			artifacts_to_build+=("full_firmware")
-		else
-			artifacts_to_build+=("firmware")
-		fi
-	fi
-
-	artifacts_to_build+=("fake_ubuntu_advantage_tools")
-
-	artifacts_to_build+=("armbian-config")
-	artifacts_to_build+=("armbian-zsh")
-	artifacts_to_build+=("armbian-plymouth-theme")
-
-	if [[ -n "${RELEASE}" ]]; then
-		# Further packages require aggregation
-		assert_requires_aggregation
-
-			artifacts_to_build+=("armbian-bsp-cli")
-			if [[ -n "${DESKTOP_ENVIRONMENT}" ]]; then
-				artifacts_to_build+=("armbian-desktop")
-				artifacts_to_build+=("armbian-bsp-desktop")
-			fi
-	fi
-
+	determine_artifacts_to_build_for_image
 	display_alert "Artifacts to build:" "${artifacts_to_build[*]}" "debug"
 
 	# For each artifact, try to obtain them from the local cache, remote cache, or build them.