1. Getting Started

Microchip is running an Early Access Program (EAP) for the LegUp HLS compiler software. This program enables you to evaluate a beta version of LegUp HLS software and provide us with valuable feedback. To participate in EAP and download LegUp, please fill out the LegUp software request form here and we will contact you to support your evaluation.

1.1. Installation

LegUp supports Windows 10 and Linux (CentOS 7).

1.1.1. Windows

Run the Windows installer program, LegUp-9.1-Win64-Setup.exe, and go through the steps in the installer.

1.1.2. Linux

1.1.2.1. CentOS

The CentOS installer is packaged as a self-extracting shell script that can be installed to a local directory. To run the installer:

cd $(INSTALLATION_DIRECTORY)
sh /path/to/legup-9.1-centos-installer.run

This will install LegUp into the INSTALLATION_DIRECTORY. After the installation is completed, please add the LegUp bin directory to your path:

export PATH=$(INSTALLATION_DIRECTORY)/legup-9.1/legup/bin:$PATH

If you need to extend your license on CentOS, please also set the following environment variable:

export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$(INSTALLATION_DIRECTORY)/legup-9.1/dependencies/gcc/lib64:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH

1.1.3. Libero and ModelSim

You will need to install the Libero SoC software to synthesize the generated hardware for Microchip FPGAs. After installing Libero, please make sure to download all of new IP cores (open a Libero project, go to the Catalog pane, and click on “Download them now!”, as shown below), as some IPs may be needed for LegUp.

_images/libero_ip_download.png

Libero also comes with ModelSim which is used by LegUp to simulate the generated Verilog. Please note that the first time you simulate a generated hardware block with a fresh install of LegUp, ModelSim will compile our IP libraries, which may take some time.

1.2. Quick Start Tutorial

Please refer to our LegUp HLS Tutorial for Microsemi PolarFire: Sobel Filtering for Image Edge Detection on how to use some of the major features and optimization techniques.