3.2 Getting Started

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 License Installation Guide.

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

Since version 2022.3, SmartHLS™ has been integrated into the Libero SoC Design Suite. For further information, please refer to the installation instructions for the Libero SoC Design Suite.

For SmartHLS v2022.2.1 or earlier, you will need to download the standalone SmartHLS installer for Windows or Linux. Installation instructions can be found in the Getting Started section of the SmartHLS v2022.2 User Guide.

For Linux users, after installation is completed, please add the SmartHLS bin directory to your path. For example, for bash shell users,

export PATH="<LIBERO_SOC_INSTALLATION_DIR>/SmartHLS/SmartHLS/bin:$PATH"

For Windows users: Search and select 'SmartHLS <version>' from the Start menu.

For Linux users: Open a terminal and run the command shls -g.

You will need 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.