2019.1:
From 2019.1 release, selecting Mali backend is decoupled from 'DISTRO_FEATURES', another variable is introduced ' MALI_BACKEND_DEFAULT' to create proper link. By default, plnx build system will try to package all the backends in the rootfs and depending upon the value of ' MALI_BACKEND_DEFAULT' we create a link to the correct backend. Fbdev, X11, wayland and headless are the choices we have, assigning incorrect name would yield a link to headless.
For example: Once you have selected libmali through 'petalinux-config -c rootfs', add following parameters to <plnx-proj-root>/project-spec/meta-user/conf/petalinuxbsp.conf to select wayland.
MALI_BACKEND_DEFAULT = "wayland"
Users can still modify DISTRO_FEATURES, in order to reduce the size of rootfs, but remember selecting Mali backend wont be impacted.
2018.3:
From 2018.3 release, Mali will support wayland/GBM backend in addition to fbdev and X11.
For example: Once you have selected libmali through 'petalinux-config -c rootfs' unselect 'packagegroup-petalinux-matchbox' and 'packagegroup-petalinux-x11' and add following parameters to <plnx-proj-root>/project-spec/meta-user/conf/petalinuxbsp.conf
DISTRO_FEATURES_append = " wayland" IMAGE_INSTALL_append = " packagegroup-petalinux-weston"
This packagegroup ensures all the essential wayland/weston packages are packaged into the rootfs for having a wayland/weston application work out of the box. On boot, export following parameter in your terminal console.
export XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=/run/user/0/
Now, you can run sample benchmarking application glmark2-es2-wayland and glmark2-es2-drm.