3.2 Getting Started

Information and resources to help you get started using SmartHLS as quickly as possible.

3.2.1 License Setup

Starting version 2024.2, SmartHLS no longer requires a separate license. SmartHLS is now supported using the Libero SoC Design Suite license.

For SmartHLS 2024.1 and earlier, you need to upgrade your Libero license. Your upgraded Libero license is available for download after the release of Libero SoC 2024.2. With the upgraded Libero license, you can use SmartHLS 2024.1 and earlier without a separate SmartHLS license.

To download your upgraded Libero license, log on to your Microchip Direct account. For instructions on how to setup a Libero license, see the Libero SoC Software Download and License Installation Guide Ordering and Downloading a License.

For information about when a license is checked, see When is the License Checked?.

3.2.2 Installation

SmartHLS™ supports all the operating systems that are supported by the corresponding Libero version.

3.2.2.1 Windows

Run the Windows installer program, SmartHLS-2024.2-Win64-Setup.exe, and go through the steps in the installer.

3.2.2 Linux

3.2.2.1 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/smarthls-2024.2-centos-installer.run

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

export PATH=$(INSTALLATION_DIRECTORY)/SmartHLS-2024.2/SmartHLS/bin:$PATH

3.2.3 Launching SmartHLS™ IDE

On Windows or Linux, you can launch the SmartHLS IDE by running the shls -g command from the terminal.

3.2.4 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 SmartHLS™.

Libero also comes with ModelSim which is used by SmartHLS to simulate the generated Verilog.

Users should add the path to ModelSim and Libero® in the SmartHLS™ IDE using the menu setting under SmartHLS -> Tool Path Setting or add them to the PATH environment when using the SmartHLS command-line interface.