title: How do I set an environmental variable on my target board using a yocto recipe?
body: <p>I would like to create an environmental variable called BOARD that is set to the physical board type from a Yocto recipe. This variable will not be used during the actual installation of recipes. I would also like to modify the HOME variable. These variables need to be accessible on the board after it is booted. What is the best of doing so?</p>
  
  <p>I have tried using export but realized that this command doesn't affect the parent shell. I have read about modifying the dot.profile file, but I don't want to hard code a variable. I would like it to dynamically alter the variable depending on what MACHINE variable was used to run bitbake.</p>
  
  <p>For example in the dot.profile file:</p>
  
  <p>export BOARD = "${MACHINE}"</p>
  
  <p>However, MACHINE doesn't seem to be accessible.</p>