Walkthroughs for First Users

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The following are a set of walkthroughs to demonstrate the functionality and usability of the EMP framework. To begin with (Prerequisites) the required software is downloaded and installed. The walkthroughs demonstrate the following functionality:

1. Walkthrough1: creating your own repository from scratch - Create a repository and a null algorithm (copy input buffers to output) in the users’s own development area. Key points:

   • create repo

   • synthesis

   • build firmware (bitfile)

2. Walkthrough2: First payload modifications and buffer manipulation - “Plus5” - Extend the implementation to a simple custom algorithm payload to add 5 to the input buffers. Demonstrating how to:

   • implement VHDL algo

   • simulate

   • build and upload firmware

   • interrogate buffers (both simulated and in actual hardware)

3. Walkthrough3: Modular algorithm and creation of payload entity: Create a modular payload entity which demonstrates how to combine distributed components within emp_payload.vhd and to instantiate them whithin the dependency files.

   • This walkthrough will appear in the future.

4. Walkthrough4: High Level Synthesis Example: Create an algorithm written in HLS (high level synthesis) and implement it within the firmware - key points:

   • Introduce C++ code to your algorithm

   • Create an IP-core for instantiating within EMP

   • Add the HLS algo to EMP and implement on an FPGA

5. Walkthrough5: Simulation: Simulate the firmware that you created in Walkthrough4: High Level Synthesis Example. ModelSim can be used to simulate the performance of an FPGA without having to carry out full synthesis, implementation and deployment. This walkthrough will demonstrate how to:

   • Create from EMP the vivado project for simulation purposes

   • Include the algorithm and carry out test buffer injection and observe the result (output).