Exporting Platforms to Vitis - 2021.1 English

To start software development, user can export the hardware definition (XSA) to software environment after generating the design. This exports the necessary XML files needed for Vitis to interpret the IPs used in the design and also exports the memory mapping from the processor perspective. After a bitstream is generated and the design is exported, then the device can be downloaded and the software can run on the processor within the platform. The hardware can be exported at two stages in the design flow: pre-synthesis and post-implementation.

To export the hardware prior to synthesis, use the following steps:

1. In the Flow Navigator, under IP integrator, click Generate Block Design. Alternatively, select the BD in the Sources window, then right-click and select Generate Output Products.
2. In the Generate Output Products dialog box, select the appropriate option, and click Generate.
   
3. To export the platform, click Export Platform button or select File > Export > Export Platform.
4. The Export Platform wizard guides user through the export process to Vitis or PetaLinux software tools. User needs to provide the name and location of exported files and specify the platform properties.
5. Click Next to specify the platform type first. Options are exporting project files to be used for hardware, emulation, or both.
   
6. Click Next and select between the two implementation state of the platform (pre-synthesis or post-implementation) to indicate the starting point for Vivado flow under v++.
7. Click Next to enter the platform properties including: name, vendor, board, version, description. This step also allows user to set the Tcl and constraints used by Vitis when compiling designs with this platform for Vivado implementation runs.
   
8. Click Next to enter the name of the platform as well as the location where XSA files will be stored.
9. Review the settings for the platform. To export the platform, click Finish.