This normally 2-day class is delivered in 4 half-day sessions online.   

Course Description

This course provides a thorough introduction to the Vitis™ High-Level Synthesis (HLS) tool.

The focus of this course is on:

• Converting C/C++ designs into RTL implementations
• Learning the Vitis HLS tool flow
• Creating I/O interfaces for designs by using the Vitis HLS tool
• Applying different optimization techniques
• Improving throughput, area, latency, and logic by using different HLS pragmas/directives
• Exporting IP that can be used with the Vivado® IP catalog
• Downloading for in-circuit validation

What's New for 2021.2

• Ease-of-use (EoU) enhancements
• Analysis and reporting enhancements
• Timing and QoR enhancements
• Support for the new Timeline Trace Viewer after simulation which shows the runtime profile of the design and allows the user to remain in the Vitis HLS GUI
• All labs have been updated to the latest software versions

* This course focuses on the Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC architecture. Check with your local Authorized Training Provider for the specifics of the in-class lab board or other customizations.

After completing this comprehensive training, you will have the necessary skills to:

• Enhance productivity using the Vitis HLS tool
• Describe the high-level synthesis flow
• Use the Vitis HLS tool for a first project
• Identify the importance of the test bench
• Use directives to improve performance and area and select RTL interfaces
• Identify common coding pitfalls as well as methods for improving code for RTL/hardware
• Perform system-level integration of IP generated by the Vitis HLS tool

Course Outline

Day 1 & 2

• Introduction to High-Level Synthesis

Overview of high-level synthesis (HLS), the Vitis HLS tool flow, and the verification advantage. {Lecture}

• Vitis HLS Tool Flow

Explores the basics of high-level synthesis and the Vitis HLS tool. {Lecture, Demo, Lab}

• Design Exploration with Directives

Explores different optimization techniques that can improve the design performance. {Lecture}

• Vitis HLS Tool Command Line Interface

Describes the Vitis HLS tool flow in command prompt mode. {Lecture, Lab}

• Introduction to Vitis HLS Design Methodology

Introduces the methodology guidelines covered in this course and the HLS Design Methodology steps. {Lecture}

• Introduction to I/O Interfaces

Explains interfaces such as the block-level and port-level protocols abstracted by the Vitis HLS tool from the C design. {Lecture}

• Block-Level Protocols

Explains the different types of block-level protocols abstracted by the Vitis HLS tool. {Lecture, Lab}

• Port-Level I/O Protocols

Describes the port-level interface protocols abstracted by the Vitis HLS tool from the C design. {Lecture, Demo, Lab}

• AXI Adapter Interface Protocols

Explains the different AXI interfaces (such as AXI4-Master, AXI4-Lite (Slave), and AXI4-Stream) supported by the Vitis HLS tool. {Lecture, Demo}

• Port-Level I/O Protocols: Memory Interfaces

Describes the memory interface port-level protocols (such as block RAM and FIFO) abstracted by the Vitis HLS tool from the C design. {Lecture, Lab}

• Pipeline for Performance: PIPELINE

Describes the PIPELINE directive for improving the throughput of a design. {Lecture, Lab}

Day 3 & 4

• Pipeline for Performance: DATAFLOW

Describes the DATAFLOW directive for improving the throughput of a design by pipelining the functions to execute as soon as possible. {Lecture, Lab}

• Optimizing for Throughput

Identify the performance limitations caused by arrays in your design. You will also explore optimization techniques to handle arrays for improving performance. {Lecture, Demo, Lab}

• Optimizing for Latency: Default Behavior

Describes the default behavior of the Vitis HLS tool on latency and throughput. {Lecture}

• Optimizing for Latency: Reducing Latency

Describes how to optimize the C design to improve latency. {Lecture}

• Optimizing for Area and Logic

Describes different methods for improving resource utilization and explains how some of the directives have impact on the area utilization. {Lecture, Lab}

• Migrating to the Vitis HLS Tool

Reviews key considerations when moving from the Vivado HLS tool to the Vitis HLS tool. {Lecture}

• HLS Design Flow – System Integration

Describes the traditional RTL flow versus the Vitis HLS tool design flow. {Lecture, Lab}

• Vitis HLS Tool C++ Libraries: Arbitrary Precision

Describes Vitis HLS tool support for the C/C++ languages as well as arbitrary precision data types. {Lecture, Lab}

• Hardware Modeling

Describes hardware modeling with streaming data types and shift register implementation using the ap_shift_reg class. {Lecture}

• Using Pointers in the Vitis HLS Tool

Explains the use of pointers in the design and workarounds for some of the limitations. {Lecture}