Vitis High Level Synthesis (HLS) Hardware Design-Vitis HLS hardware design tool.

Introduction to Vitis High Level Synthesis (HLS) Hardware Design

Vitis High-Level Synthesis (HLS) is an advanced design methodology that translates high-level language (C/C++) descriptions of algorithms into register-transfer level (RTL) designs. This process automates the generation of RTL, significantly enhancing productivity by allowing designers to work at a higher level of abstraction. By using HLS, designers can quickly explore multiple architecture options, optimize performance, and accelerate the design cycle. The typical workflow involves writing a C/C++ algorithm, verifying it, using the HLS tool to synthesize RTL, and then validating the generated RTL through simulation. This methodology is particularly beneficial for designing complex systems on programmable logic devices such as FPGAs. For example, consider a video processing algorithm that needs to handle real-time data streams. Using HLS, the algorithm can be described in C++, synthesized to RTL, and then implemented on an FPGA, enabling efficient real-time processing.