Introduction to the c2h compiler, User guide overview, Chapter 1. introduction to the c2h compiler – Altera Nios II C2H Compiler User Manual

Page 7: User guide overview –1

Altera Corporation

9.1

1–1

November 2009

1. Introduction to the

C2H Compiler

The Nios

II C-to-Hardware Acceleration (C2H) Compiler is a tool that

allows you to create custom hardware accelerators directly from ANSI C
source code. A hardware accelerator is a block of logic that implements a
C function in hardware, which often improves the execution performance
by an order of magnitude. Using the C2H Compiler, you can develop and
debug an algorithm in C targeting an Altera

Nios II processor, and then

quickly convert the C code to a hardware accelerator implemented in a
field programmable gate array (FPGA).

The C2H Compiler improves the performance of Nios II programs by
implementing specific C functions as hardware accelerators. The
C2H Compiler is not designed to create arbitrary hardware systems from
C code. Rather, the C2H Compiler is a tool for generating a hardware
accelerator module, functionally identical to the original C function, that
offloads and enhances the performance of the Nios II processor.

User Guide
Overview

This user guide comprises the following chapters:

■

Chapter 1, Introduction to the C2H Compiler

provides a detailed

background on the C2H Compiler and the concepts required to use
it.

■

Chapter 2, Getting Started Tutorial

provides hands-on instructions

that teach you the first steps to begin using the C2H Compiler.

■

Chapter 3, C-to-Hardware Mapping Reference