eglinfo

Display full platform information

$ eglinfo

$ eglinfo -B

$ eglinfo -h

eglinfo

The `eglinfo` command is a utility, typically found as part of Mesa, used to query and display detailed information about the available EGL (Embedded-System Graphics Library) drivers and their capabilities on a Linux system. It provides a comprehensive overview of the EGL implementation, including supported EGL extensions, available EGL configurations (visuals), and details about the underlying graphics drivers and hardware. This information is crucial for developers working with EGL-based applications, particularly those involving OpenGL ES, as it allows them to understand the specific features and limitations of the graphics stack they are targeting. The output from `eglinfo` is often used for debugging rendering issues, verifying driver installations, and determining optimal rendering strategies for different hardware configurations. The command retrieves this information by interacting with the EGL driver using standard EGL API calls, effectively acting as a runtime inspector of the EGL environment.
Note: EGL is typically used for OpenGL ES or similar embedded graphics applications. This command is only useful when these kinds of programs are supposed to run on the system.

The output of `eglinfo` depends heavily on the installed graphics drivers and the EGL implementation provided by Mesa (or other EGL providers). If no EGL drivers are installed or if there are configuration issues, `eglinfo` may not produce any output or may report errors. Also, the information displayed may vary significantly between different systems and driver versions.

The output of `eglinfo` is structured into sections that cover various aspects of the EGL environment. EGL Extensions: Lists the supported EGL extensions, which define the available functionalities beyond the core EGL specification.

EGL Configurations: Describes the available EGL configurations, each representing a specific combination of color depth, buffer sizes, and other visual attributes. Each configuration provides a different way to render graphics and can be selected based on the application's requirements.

Driver Information: Provides details about the graphics driver in use, including the vendor, version, and supported OpenGL ES versions. This information helps developers understand the capabilities and limitations of the underlying hardware.

Understanding these sections is crucial for developers to make informed decisions about how to use EGL in their applications.

The `eglinfo` command is commonly associated with the Mesa 3D Graphics Library. Mesa is an open-source implementation of OpenGL, OpenGL ES, and other graphics APIs. `eglinfo` has evolved alongside Mesa, becoming an essential tool for developers to understand and debug EGL environments as embedded graphics development has increased. Its usage helps expose problems in the driver layers to developers so they can workaround/report issues.

The command probably dates to the mid-2000s, as this is when EGL started to grow in importance.

glxinfo(1)