AN 834: Using the Intel® HLS Compiler Pro Edition with an IDE

ID 683131
Date 5/29/2020
Public

1. Using the Intel® HLS Compiler Pro Edition with an IDE

Updated for:
Intel® Quartus® Prime Design Suite 20.1

Integrating the Intel® HLS Compiler with an IDE lets you use a native compiler and debugger to work on the functional correctness of your testbench and HLS component before optimizing your component for FPGA performance.

This document covers using the Intel® HLS Compiler Pro Edition Version 20.1 with an IDE. For instructions on using the Intel® HLS Compiler Standard Edition with an IDE, see AN 918: Using the Intel® HLS Compiler Standard Edition with an IDE.

Only the Intel® HLS Compiler i++ command generates the High-Level Design Reports that help you to optimize your component.

On Linux operating systems, the native compiler is g++, while on Windows operating systems the native compiler is Microsoft Visual C++ (MSVC).

At a high level, using a native compiler (g++ or MSVC) involves the following steps:
  1. Export the path to the Intel® HLS Compiler include files to your environment:
    <hls_installdir/include
    Where <hls_installdir> is the path to your Intel® HLS Compiler. The default installation locations for the Intel® HLS Compiler are as follows:
    • Linux: /home/<username>/intelFPGA_pro/20.1/hls
    • Windows: C:\intelFPGA_pro\20.1\hls
  2. Export the path to the Intel® HLS Compiler emulation library to the same environment:
    • Linux:
      <hls_installdir>/host/linux64/lib
    • Windows:
      <hls_installdir>/host/windows64/lib
  3. In the environment set with the exported paths, run your IDE (or compiler) and compile your code with the emulation library and any other flags described in the "Compiler Interoperability" in Intel® HLS Compiler Pro Edition Version 20.1 Reference Manual .

You can also use your IDE to debug executables generated by the Intel® HLS Compiler compiler, including your simulation testbench.