Stephen Chappell and Chris Sullivan
Celoxica

The C language for hardware/software system design is entering standard industrial design flows. Handel-C is a design language and methodology for designing, through to implementation, efficient programmable hardware. This paper discusses how and why the Handel-C language has been deployed to rapidly design applications and functionality for the emerging breed of hybrid programmable logic and microprocessor devices.

A case study has been used to highlight the Handel-C design flow for FPSoC that uses a minimal tool chain, common language base for the hardware and software design and the use of novel APIs for peripheral and processor abstraction. The design cooperation between the Handel-C IDE (DKI) and Wind River's OS IDE (Tornado) is highlighted.