The Vivado® tools provide specific flows for programming, based on the processor. The Vivado IDE uses the IP integrator with graphic connectivity screens to specify the device, select peripherals, and configure hardware settings.
You can use the Vivado IP integrator to capture hardware platform information in XML format applications, along with other data files to develop designs for Xilinx processors. Software design tools use the XML to do the following:
- Create and configure board support package (BSP) libraries
- Infer compiler options
- Program the processor logic (PL)
- Define JTAG settings
- Automate other operations that require information about the hardware
The MicroBlaze™ embedded processor is a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) core, optimized for implementation in Xilinx field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Use Using a MicroBlaze Processor in an Embedded Design to understand how to use IP integrator and other Xilinx tools to create an embedded MicroBlaze processor design. See the MicroBlaze Processor Reference Guide (UG984) for more processor information.
Xilinx provides design tools for developing and debugging software applications for Xilinx processors, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Software IDE
- GNU-based compiler tool-chain
- Debugging tools
These tools let you develop both bare-metal applications that do not require an operating system, and applications for an open-source Linux-based operating system.
Xilinx provides integration between a hardware design and the software development with an integrated flow down to Vitis™ software platform: a standalone product that is available for download from the Xilinx website. See the Vitis Unified Software Platform Documentation for more information about how to use the tool.