Specifications

Software Build Process
To create a software project with the Nios II SBT, you perform several high-level steps:
1. Obtain the hardware design on which the software is to run. When you are learning about the build
tools, this might be a Nios II design example. When you are developing your own design, it is probably
a design developed by someone in your organization. Either way, you need to have the SOPC Informa‐
tion File (.sopcinfo).
2. Decide what features the BSP requires. For example, does it need to support an RTOS? Does it need
other specialized software support, such as a TCP/IP stack? Does it need to fit in a small memory
footprint? The answers to these questions tell you what BSP features and settings to use.
For more information about available BSP settings, refer to the "Nios II Software Build Tools
Reference" chapter.
3. Define a BSP. Use the Nios II SBT to specify the components in the BSP, and the values of any relevant
settings. The result of this step is a BSP settings file, called settings.bsp.
For more information about creating BSPs, refer to the "Board Support Packages" chapter.
4. Create a BSP makefile using the Nios II build tools.
5. Optionally create a user library. If you need to include a custom software user library, you collect the
user library source files in a single directory, and create a user library makefile. The Nios II build tools
can create a makefile for you. You can also create a makefile by hand, or you can autogenerate a
makefile and then customize it by hand.
For more information about creating user library projects, refer to the “Applications and Libraries”
chapter.
6. Collect your application source code. When you are learning, this might be a Nios II software example.
When you are developing a product, it is probably a collection of C/C++ source files developed by
someone in your organization.
For more information about creating application projects, refer to the “Applications and Libraries”
chapter.
7. Create an application makefile. The easiest approach is to let the Nios II build tools create the makefile
for you. You can also create a makefile by hand, or you can autogenerate a makefile and then
customize it by hand.
For more information about creating makefiles, refer to the “Makefiles” chapter.
Related Information
• Applications and Libraries on page 4-4
• Makefiles on page 4-2
• Board Support Packages on page 4-5
• Nios II Software Build Tools Reference on page 15-1
Common BSP Tasks
The Nios II SBT creates a BSP for you with useful default settings. However, for many tasks you must
manipulate the BSP explicitly. This section describes the following common BSP tasks, and how you carry
them out.
NII5V2
2015.05.14
Software Build Process
4-7
Nios II Software Build Tools
Altera Corporation
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