Forum Discussion

9 Replies

  • SParv4's avatar
    SParv4
    Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor

    Hi, I tried 19.4 Pro with Cyclone 10 GX. This is my user feedback.

    1. Like AHDL, Verilog or Schematic, I should be able to enter my design in Quartus GUI itself using C/C++. (Well Quarts GUI itself has become old and requires renovation, e.g can use Direct 3D for RTL viewer, Pin Planner etc. Even android game have better user responsiveness)
    2. It should produce RTL logic as the above mentioned design files produce.
    3. Right now HLS compiles very slowly, produces so many files and the output is cluttered, that coding in AHDL or Verilog is easier.

    I think HLS is not yet an alternate for the traditional design entry methods, but might soon become one.

  • MEIYAN_L_Intel's avatar
    MEIYAN_L_Intel
    Icon for Frequent Contributor rankFrequent Contributor

    Hi,

    Thanks you for your information and feedback. I will report this to the developer.

    According to https://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/programmable/us/en/pdfs/literature/hb/hls/ug-hls.pdf, Intel HLS compiler compiles the design to an x86-64 object or FPGA-targeted RTL code, and creates an executable testbench.

    After compilation in HLS, you may saw the HDL file in component directory.

    Also, you can use the command "eg: i++ --quartus-compile --simulator none -march=CycloneV counter.cpp -o test-fpga -v" and the results and files will be put in .prj/quartus directory.

    For you information, the HLS compiler Lite v19.1 can be download as standalone software from https://fpgasoftware.intel.com/19.1/?edition=lite

    Thanks

  • SParv4's avatar
    SParv4
    Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor

    Hi,

    Thanks for uploading the HLS compiler Lite v19.1. I will give it a try with Cyclone10LP

    I will also try i++ --quartus-compile.

    For counter.cpp the quaruts_compile.sv file generated looks good.

    But for ''interp_decim_filter'' example the .sv file does not seem complete and instead links to a plethora of other component files?

    That is not a problem as long as I can get .bdf or .ini (AHDL) file which I can use in my project without going through the Platform Designer.

  • SParv4's avatar
    SParv4
    Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor

    Hi,

    The following is the output from the command prompt:

    ========================

    E:\intelFPGA_pro\19.4\hls\examples\image_downsample>i++ --quartus-compile --simulator none -march=Cyclone10GX bmp_tools.cpp main.cpp resize.cpp -o test-fpga -v

    Target FPGA part name: 10CX220YF780I5G

    Target FPGA family name: Cyclone10GX

    Target FPGA speed grade: -5

    Analyzing bmp_tools.cpp for hardware generation

    Analyzing main.cpp for hardware generation

    Analyzing resize.cpp for hardware generation

    Optimizing component(s) and generating Verilog files

    aocl-opt.exe takes CPU load of 25% for 2 hrs

    How long will it take to generate??

  • SParv4's avatar
    SParv4
    Icon for New Contributor rankNew Contributor

    I tried this simple adder

    #include "HLS/hls.h"
     
    #ifndef __INTELFPGA_COMPILER__
    #include "ref/ac_int.h"
    #else
    #include "HLS/ac_int.h"
    #endif
     
     
    component uint8 s_adder(uint8 a, uint8 b) 
    {
        return (a + b);
    }

    and got the attached RTL.

    The compile time , the convenience and finally the RTL generated is not satisfactory for at least simple systems.

    I will continue with IP catalog and AHDL.

  • MEIYAN_L_Intel's avatar
    MEIYAN_L_Intel
    Icon for Frequent Contributor rankFrequent Contributor

    Hi,

    Thank you for your information. I had reported to developer for this RTL generated with simple adder system.

    Thanks