Altera Nios II C2H Compiler - Manual (Page 12)

1–6 9.1 Altera Corporation
Nios II C2H Compiler User Guide November 2009
C2H Compiler Concepts
C2H Support in Nios II Tool Flows
The Nios II IDE is the preferred tool flow for developing Nios II C2H
programs. The Nios II IDE allows you to carry out the following
important tasks:
■ Debug your function prior to accelerating
■ Generate the accelerator and incorporate it into your hardware
■ Test and profile your software and hardware with the C2H
accelerator
Altera recommends creating new C2H systems with the Nios II IDE.
f
For information about using the Nios II IDE, refer to the Using the Nios II
Integrated Development Environment appendix to the Nios II Software
Developer's Handbook , or to the Nios II IDE help system. For information
about Nios II tool flows, refer to “Development Flows for Creating Nios
II Programs” in the
Overview chapter of the Nios II Software Developer's
Handbook .
The Nios II Software Build Tools also provide command-line support for
pre-existing command-line C2H projects.
f
For information about using C2H on the command line, refer to
Chapter 5, Accelerating Code Using the Nios II Software Build Tools
Command Line
.
1 The Nios II Software Build Tools for Eclipse do not support the
C2H Compiler.
C2H Compiler
Concepts This section describes fundamental concepts underpinning the
C2H Compiler. These concepts help you better understand how the
C2H Compiler works and how you can produce optimal results.
Simplicity and Ease of Use
The C2H Compiler minimizes interruptions to existing design flows. The
flow to generate a hardware accelerator and link software for it uses the
familiar Nios II and SOPC Builder design tools. When you create a Nios II
software project, you specify which C function (or functions) compiles as
a hardware accelerator rather than instructions on a processor . The