%poky; ] > Features provide a mechanism for working out which packages should be included in the generated images. Distributions can select which features they want to support through the DISTRO_FEATURES variable, which is set in the poky.conf distribution configuration file. Machine features are set in the MACHINE_FEATURES variable, which is set in the machine configuration file and specifies the hardware features for a given machine. These two variables combine to work out which kernel modules, utilities, and other packages to include. A given distribution can support a selected subset of features so some machine features might not be included if the distribution itself does not support them.

The items below are valid options for DISTRO_FEATURES: alsa: ALSA support will be included (OSS compatibility kernel modules will be installed if available). bluetooth: Include bluetooth support (integrated BT only) ext2: Include tools for supporting for devices with internal HDD/Microdrive for storing files (instead of Flash only devices) irda: Include Irda support keyboard: Include keyboard support (e.g. keymaps will be loaded during boot). pci: Include PCI bus support pcmcia: Include PCMCIA/CompactFlash support usbgadget: USB Gadget Device support (for USB networking/serial/storage) usbhost: USB Host support (allows to connect external keyboard, mouse, storage, network etc) wifi: WiFi support (integrated only) cramfs: CramFS support ipsec: IPSec support ipv6: IPv6 support nfs: NFS client support (for mounting NFS exports on device) ppp: PPP dialup support smbfs: SMB networks client support (for mounting Samba/Microsoft Windows shares on device)

The items below are valid options for MACHINE_FEATURES: acpi: Hardware has ACPI (x86/x86_64 only) alsa: Hardware has ALSA audio drivers apm: Hardware uses APM (or APM emulation) bluetooth: Hardware has integrated BT ext2: Hardware HDD or Microdrive irda: Hardware has Irda support keyboard: Hardware has a keyboard pci: Hardware has a PCI bus pcmcia: Hardware has PCMCIA or CompactFlash sockets screen: Hardware has a screen serial: Hardware has serial support (usually RS232) touchscreen: Hardware has a touchscreen usbgadget: Hardware is USB gadget device capable usbhost: Hardware is USB Host capable wifi: Hardware has integrated WiFi

The contents of images generated by the OpenEmbedded build system can be controlled by the IMAGE_FEATURES and EXTRA_IMAGE_FEATURES variables that you typically configure in your image recipes. Through these variables you can add several different predefined packages such as development utilities or packages with debug information needed to investigate application problems or profile applications. Current list of IMAGE_FEATURES contains the following: splash: Enables showing a splash screen during boot. By default, this screen is provided by psplash, which does allow customization. If you prefer to use an alternative splash screen package, you can do so by setting the SPLASH variable to a different package name (or names) within the image recipe or at the distro configuration level. ssh-server-dropbear: Installs the Dropbear minimal SSH server. ssh-server-openssh: Installs the OpenSSH SSH server, which is more full-featured than Dropbear. Note that if both the OpenSSH SSH server and the Dropbear minimal SSH server are present in IMAGE_FEATURES, then OpenSSH will take precedence and Dropbear will not be installed. x11: Installs the X server x11-base: Installs the X server with a minimal environment. x11-sato: Installs the OpenedHand Sato environment. tools-sdk: Installs a full SDK that runs on the device. tools-debug: Installs debugging tools such as strace and gdb. tools-profile: Installs profiling tools such as oprofile, exmap, and LTTng. tools-testapps: Installs device testing tools (e.g. touchscreen debugging). nfs-server: Installs an NFS server. dev-pkgs: Installs development packages (headers and extra library links) for all packages installed in a given image. staticdev-pkgs: Installs static development packages (i.e. static libraries containing *.a files) for all packages installed in a given image. dbg-pkgs: Installs debug symbol packages for all packages installed in a given image. doc-pkgs: Installs documentation packages for all packages installed in a given image.

Sometimes it is necessary to add a new feature option to the MACHINE_FEATURES or DISTRO_FEATURES lists and have it affect all configurations. For example, suppose new functionality is developed and it must be enabled by default for all configurations. Sometimes it is also necessary to disable (remove) a feature option, which has been previously enabled by default, from the machine or distro lists. For example, perhaps a mandatory distro feature becomes optional. How can you remove the feature option from the DISTRO_FEATURES list without disturbing all the existing configurations that still might need the feature? Feature backfilling allows you "backfill" the feature into all the configurations and then lets you selectively prevent the feature from being added to MACHINE_FEATURES and DISTRO_FEATURES lists. Here are two examples to help illustrate feature backfilling: The "pulseaudio" distro feature option: Previously, PulseAudio support was enabled within the Qt and GStreamer frameworks. However, you might need to disable the feature for your distro. You can disable the feature without affecting other existing distro configurations that need PulseAudio support by doing the following: Add "pulseaudio" to DISTRO_FEATURES_BACKFILL within your meta/conf/bitbake.conf file. Adding the feature option causes the build process to automatically add "pulseaudio" to DISTRO_FEATURES without the need to update any distro configurations. This step by itself enables the feature for all distros and consequently ensures that existing configurations that still need the feature are undisturbed. Add "pulseaudio" to DISTRO_FEATURES_BACKFILL_CONSIDERED in your distro's .conf file. Adding the feature option to this variable when it also exists in the DISTRO_FEATURES_BACKFILL variable prevents the build system from adding the feature option to DISTRO_FEATURES, effectively disabling the feature for that particular distro. The "rtc" machine feature option: Previously, real time clock (RTC) support was enabled for all target devices. However, your target device does not have this capability. You can disable RTC support for your device without affecting other machines where RTC support should remain enabled by doing the following: Add "rtc" to MACHINE_FEATURES_BACKFILL within your meta/conf/bitbake.conf. Adding the feature option causes the build process to automatically add "rtc" to MACHINE_FEATURES without the need to update any machine configurations. This step by itself enables RTC support for all machines and consequently ensures that existing configurations that still need the feature are undisturbed. Add "rtc" to MACHINE_FEATURES_BACKFILL_CONSIDERED in your machine's .conf file. Adding the feature option to this variable when it also exists in the MACHINE_FEATURES_BACKFILL variable prevents the build system from adding the feature option to MACHINE_FEATURES, effectively disabling RTC support for feature that particular machine.