Specifications

Nios II Software Development Environment
The Nios II EDS provides a consistent software development environment that works for all Nios II
processor systems. With the Nios II EDS running on a host computer, an Altera FPGA, and a JTAG
download cable (such as an Altera USB-Blaster
™
download cable), you can write programs for and
communicate with any Nios II processor system. The Nios II processor’s JTAG debug module provides a
single, consistent method to connect to the processor using a JTAG download cable. Accessing the
processor is the same, regardless of whether a device implements only a Nios II processor system, or
whether the Nios II processor is embedded deeply in a complex multiprocessor system. Therefore, you do
not need to spend time manually creating interface mechanisms for the embedded processor.
The Nios II EDS includes proprietary and open-source tools (such as the GNU C/C++ tool chain) for
creating Nios II programs. The Nios II EDS automates board support package (BSP) creation for Nios II
processor-based systems, eliminating the need to spend time manually creating BSPs. The BSP provides a
C/C++ runtime environment, insulating you from the hardware in your embedded system. Altera BSPs
contain the Altera hardware abstraction layer (HAL), an optional RTOS, and device drivers.
Nios II EDS Development Flows
A development flow is a way of using a set of development tools together to create a software project. The
Nios II EDS provides the following development flows for creating Nios II programs:
• The Nios II Software Build Tools (SBT), which provides two user interfaces:
• The Nios II SBT command line
• The Nios II SBT for Eclipse
™
Nios II SBT Development Flow
The Nios II SBT allows you to create Nios II software projects, with detailed control over the software
build process. The same Nios II SBT utilities, scripts and Tcl commands are available from both the
command line and the Nios II SBT for Eclipse graphical user interface (GUI).
The SBT allows you to create and manage single-threaded programs as well as complex applications based
on an RTOS and middleware libraries available from Altera and third-party vendors.
The SBT provides powerful Tcl scripting capabilities. In a Tcl script, you can query project settings,
specify project settings conditionally, and incorporate the software project creation process in a scripted
software development flow. Tcl scripting is supported both in Eclipse and at the command line.
Related Information
Nios II Software Build Tools on page 4-1
For more information about Tcl scripting.
Nios II SBT for Eclipse
The Nios II SBT for Eclipse is a thin GUI layer that runs the Nios II SBT utilities and scripts behind the
scenes, presenting a unified development environment. The SBT for Eclipse provides a consistent
development platform that works for all Nios II processor systems. You can accomplish all software
development tasks within Eclipse, including creating, editing, building, running, debugging, and profiling
programs.
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Nios II Software Development Environment
NII5V2
2015.05.14
Altera Corporation
Overview of Nios II Embedded Development
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