AN 985: Nios® V Processor Tutorial

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ID 784468
Date 8/28/2025
Public
Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. AN 985: Nios® V Processor Tutorial 2. Hello World on Agilex™ 7 FPGA F-Series Transceiver-SoC Development Kit 3. Hello World on MAX® 10 FPGA 10M50 Evaluation Kit 4. Document Revision History for the AN 985: Nios® V Processor Tutorial
1. AN 985: Nios® V Processor Tutorial x
1.1. Overview
2. Hello World on Agilex™ 7 FPGA F-Series Transceiver-SoC Development Kit x
2.1. Hardware and Software Requirements 2.2. Generating the System 2.3. Simulating the Nios® V Processor System 2.4. Programming the System 2.5. Debugging the System
2.2. Generating the System x
2.2.1. Building Hardware Design in Platform Designer Overview 2.2.2. Building Hardware Design in Platform Designer — Manual Instantiation 2.2.3. Building Hardware Design in Platform Designer — Board-Aware Flow 2.2.4. Building Hardware Design in Platform Designer — Configurable Example Design 2.2.5. Building Software Design with Ashling* RiscFree* IDE for Altera® FPGAs
2.2.2. Building Hardware Design in Platform Designer — Manual Instantiation x
2.2.2.1. Creating a New Project 2.2.2.2. Creating a Platform Designer System 2.2.2.3. Configuring Assignment and Constraint 2.2.2.4. Compiling the Quartus® Prime Software Project
2.2.2.2. Creating a Platform Designer System x
2.2.2.2.1. Adding Nios® V/m Processor IP 2.2.2.2.2. Adding On-Chip Memory II (RAM or ROM) IP 2.2.2.2.3. Adding JTAG UART IP 2.2.2.2.4. Adding Reset Release IP 2.2.2.2.5. Connect Interfaces and Signals 2.2.2.2.6. Clear System Warnings and Errors 2.2.2.2.7. Configuring the Reset Vector of the Nios® V Processor 2.2.2.2.8. Saving and Generating System HDL
2.2.2.3. Configuring Assignment and Constraint x
2.2.2.3.1. Adding Design Files 2.2.2.3.2. Adding Synopsys Design Constraint (SDC) File 2.2.2.3.3. Pin Assignments 2.2.2.3.4. Configuration and Power Management Assignments
2.2.3. Building Hardware Design in Platform Designer — Board-Aware Flow x
2.2.3.1. Creating a New Project 2.2.3.2. Creating a Platform Designer System 2.2.3.3. Configuring Assignment and Constraint 2.2.3.4. Compiling the Quartus® Prime Software Project
2.2.3.2. Creating a Platform Designer System x
2.2.3.2.1. Adding Nios® V/m Processor IP 2.2.3.2.2. Adding On-Chip Memory (RAM or ROM) IP 2.2.3.2.3. Adding JTAG UART IP 2.2.3.2.4. Adding System ID Peripheral IP 2.2.3.2.5. Adding Reset Release IP 2.2.3.2.6. Connect Interfaces and Signals 2.2.3.2.7. Clear System Warnings and Errors 2.2.3.2.8. Saving and Generating System HDL
2.2.3.3. Configuring Assignment and Constraint x
2.2.3.3.1. Adding Design Files 2.2.3.3.2. Adding Synopsys Design Constraint (SDC) File 2.2.3.3.3. Pin Assignments 2.2.3.3.4. Configuration and Power Management Assignments
2.2.4. Building Hardware Design in Platform Designer — Configurable Example Design x
2.2.4.1. Creating a New Project 2.2.4.2. Creating a Platform Designer System 2.2.4.3. Configuring Assignment and Constraint 2.2.4.4. Compiling the Quartus® Prime Software Project
2.2.4.2. Creating a Platform Designer System x
2.2.4.2.1. Saving and Generating System HDL
2.2.4.3. Configuring Assignment and Constraint x
2.2.4.3.1. Adding Design Files 2.2.4.3.2. Pin Assignments 2.2.4.3.3. Configuration and Power Management Assignments
2.2.5. Building Software Design with Ashling* RiscFree* IDE for Altera® FPGAs x
2.2.5.1. Creating a Board Support Package 2.2.5.2. Creating an Application Project File 2.2.5.3. Importing Projects into Ashling* RiscFree* IDE for Altera® FPGAs 2.2.5.4. Building the Hello World Application
2.2.5.3. Importing Projects into Ashling* RiscFree* IDE for Altera® FPGAs x
2.2.5.3.1. Importing Nios® V Processor BSP Project 2.2.5.3.2. Importing Application Project
2.3. Simulating the Nios® V Processor System x
2.3.1. Preparing Hardware Design for Simulation 2.3.2. Preparing Software Design for Simulation 2.3.3. Checking Simulation Files 2.3.4. Running System Simulation
2.4. Programming the System x
2.4.1. Programming Hardware SOF File 2.4.2. Downloading the Software ELF File 2.4.3. Applying External Tool Configuration 2.4.4. Run Hello World Application
2.5. Debugging the System x
2.5.1. Software Debugging
2.5.1. Software Debugging x
2.5.1.1. Setting Initial Breakpoint 2.5.1.2. Starting the Debugger 2.5.1.3. View Global Variables 2.5.1.4. View Memory 2.5.1.5. Setting a Second Breakpoint 2.5.1.6. Control Debugger
3. Hello World on MAX® 10 FPGA 10M50 Evaluation Kit x
3.1. Hardware and Software Requirements 3.2. Generating the System 3.3. Simulating the Nios® V Processor System 3.4. Programming the System 3.5. Debugging the System
3.2. Generating the System x
3.2.1. Building Hardware Design in Platform Designer 3.2.2. Building Software Design with Ashling* RiscFree* IDE for Altera® FPGAs
3.2.1. Building Hardware Design in Platform Designer x
3.2.1.1. Creating a New Project 3.2.1.2. Creating a Platform Designer System 3.2.1.3. Configuring Assignment and Constraint 3.2.1.4. Compiling the Quartus® Prime Software Project
3.2.2. Building Software Design with Ashling* RiscFree* IDE for Altera® FPGAs x
3.2.2.1. Creating a Board Support Package 3.2.2.2. Creating an Application Project Files 3.2.2.3. Importing Projects into Ashling* RiscFree* IDE for Altera® FPGAs 3.2.2.4. Building the Hello World Application CMake Console Print Make Console Print
3.2.2.3. Importing Projects into Ashling* RiscFree* IDE for Altera® FPGAs x
3.2.2.3.1. Importing Nios® V Processor BSP Project 3.2.2.3.2. Importing Application Project
3.3. Simulating the Nios® V Processor System x
3.3.1. Preparing Hardware Design for Simulation 3.3.2. Preparing Software Design for Simulation 3.3.3. Checking Simulation Files 3.3.4. Running System Simulation
3.4. Programming the System x
3.4.1. Programming Hardware SOF File 3.4.2. Downloading the Software ELF File 3.4.3. Applying External Tool Configuration 3.4.4. Run Hello World Application
3.5. Debugging the System x
3.5.1. Software Debugging
3.5.1. Software Debugging x
3.5.1.1. Setting Initial Breakpoint 3.5.1.2. Starting the Debugger 3.5.1.3. View Global Variables 3.5.1.4. View Memory 3.5.1.5. Setting a Second Breakpoint 3.5.1.6. Control Debugger
1. AN 985: Nios® V Processor Tutorial
2. Hello World on Agilex™ 7 FPGA F-Series Transceiver-SoC Development Kit
3. Hello World on MAX® 10 FPGA 10M50 Evaluation Kit
4. Document Revision History for the AN 985: Nios® V Processor Tutorial

3.2.2.4. Building the Hello World Application

You can browse the BSP and APP project files in Ashling* RiscFree* IDE for Altera® FPGAs Project Explorer tab.
Figure 127. Project Explorer Tab (Before Build Project)
  1. Go to the Project in the menu tab and click Build Project.
  2. When the build is complete, you can find the console prints as shown in the examples below.
  3. In addition to the console prints, you can find the generated ELF file in the APP project folder.
    Figure 128. Project Explorer Tab (After Build Project)

CMake Console Print

cmake -DCMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS:BOOL=ON -G "Unix Makefiles" <Working 
Directory>/niosv_max10_helloworld/software/hal_app 
-- Defaulting build type to Debug.
-- The ASM compiler identification is GNU
-- Found assembler: <Disk Drive>/riscfree/toolchain/riscv32-unknown-elf/bin/riscv32-unknown-elf-gcc
-- The C compiler identification is GNU 13.2.0
-- Detecting C compiler ABI info
-- Detecting C compiler ABI info - done
-- Check for working C compiler: <Disk Drive>/riscfree/toolchain/riscv32-unknown-elf/bin/riscv32-unknown-
elf-gcc - skipped
-- Detecting C compile features
-- Detecting C compile features - done
-- The CXX compiler identification is GNU 13.2.0
-- Detecting CXX compiler ABI info
-- Detecting CXX compiler ABI info - done
-- Check for working CXX compiler: <Disk Drive>/riscfree/toolchain/riscv32-unknown-elf/bin/riscv32-unknown-
elf-g++ - skipped
-- Detecting CXX compile features
-- Detecting CXX compile features - done
-- Configuring done (2.4s)
-- Generating done (0.4s)
-- Build files have been written to: <Working Directory>/software/hal_app/build/Default

Make Console Print

/usr/bin/gmake -j all
Scanning dependencies of target hal2_bsp
[ 3%] Building ASM object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/crt0.S.obj
[ 14%] Building ASM object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/machine_trap.S.obj
[ 20%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_dma_txchan_open.c.obj
[ 21%] Building ASM object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_log_macro.S.obj
[ 30%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_find_dev.c.obj
[ 32%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_dev_llist_insert.c.obj
[ 32%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_busy_sleep.c.obj
[ 45%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_icache_flush.c.obj
[ 48%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_irq_handler.c.obj
[ 53%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_ioctl.c.obj
[ 58%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_printf.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_alarm_start.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/drivers/src/altera_avalon_jtag_uart_write.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_dcache_flush_no_writeback.c.obj
[ 98%] Building ASM object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_mcount.S.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_close.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_env_lock.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_do_dtors.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_dev.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_errno.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_dma_rxchan_open.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_exit.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_do_ctors.c.obj
[ 25%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_dcache_flush_all.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_execve.c.obj
[ 26%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_dcache_flush.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_fcntl.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_environ.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_find_file.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_fd_lock.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_fd_unlock.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_fs_reg.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_getchar.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_gettod.c.obj
[ 38%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_fork.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_flash_dev.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_iic.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_instruction_exception_register.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_gmon.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_fstat.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_get_fd.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_getpid.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_io_redirect.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_iic_isr_register.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_icache_flush_all.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_kill.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_link.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_putchar.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_main.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_open.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_remap_uncached.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_remap_cached.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_log_printf.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_isatty.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_sbrk.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_read.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_release_fd.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_putstr.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_rename.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_malloc_lock.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_load.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_settod.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_stat.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_putcharbuf.c.obj
[ 77%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_tick.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_usleep.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_times.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_uncached_free.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_write.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_wait.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_lseek.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_tls.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/intel_fpga_api_niosv.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_unlink.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/intel_fpga_platform_api_niosv.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/alt_sys_init.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/drivers/src/altera_avalon_jtag_uart_fd.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/drivers/src/altera_avalon_jtag_uart_ioctl.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/mtimer.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/drivers/src/altera_avalon_jtag_uart_init.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/drivers/src/altera_avalon_jtag_uart_read.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/intel_niosv_irq.c.obj
[ 98%] Building C object CMakeFiles/hal2_bsp.dir/HAL/src/alt_uncached_malloc.c.obj
[100%] Linking C static library libhal2_bsp.a
[100%] Built target hal2_bsp

Alternatively, you can build the application project using CLI.

1. Launch the Nios V Command Shell. 
$ niosv-shell
2. Execute the command below to build the application. 
$ cmake -G "Unix Makefiles" -B software/hal_app/build -S software/hal_app
$ make -C software/hal_app/build
Level Two Title