Simplicity Studio Development

This describes how to development C++ applications in the YZLITE using Yizhu-Tech's Simplicity Studio.
Using this guide, you can build C++ applications for Yizhu-Tech's embedded platforms.

NOTES:

  • All of the YZLITE C++ source code may be found at: yzlite repo/cpp

  • Refer to the example applications documentation for more details about what comes with the YZLITE

  • Alternatively, applications may be built for Windows/Linux and embedded targets using Visual Studio Code

Warning

Simplicity Studio 5 is required to run the YZLITE

Install Tools

First, we need to install a few tools:

0) Setup OS

If you’re on Windows, enable long file paths: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/fileio/maximum-file-path-limitation?tabs=registry

Also install the Visual Studio C++ compiler (this is needed to build some of the 3rd party Python packages for Python 3.10): https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/visual-cpp-build-tools/

Be sure to check the _Desktop Development with C++_ workload in the installer GUI.

If you’re on Linux, run the following command to install the necessary packages:

sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:ubuntu-toolchain-r/test
sudo add-apt-repository -y ppa:deadsnakes/ppa
sudo apt update
sudo apt-get -y install build-essential g++-9 cmake ninja-build gdb p7zip-full git-lfs python3-dev python3-venv libusb-1.0-0 libgl1

1) Install CMake

CMake is a build system utility used internally by the YZLITE.
Install CMake and ensure it is available on the command PATH
More details here: https://cmake.org/install

2) Install 7-Zip

7-Zip is a file archiver with a high compression ratio.
Several of the assets downloaded by the YZLITE are compressed in this format.
More details here: https://www.7-zip.org/download.html

3) Install Python

Install Python 3.7, 3.8, 3.9 or 3.10 64-bit and ensure it is available on the command PATH
More details here: https://www.python.org/downloads

4) Install GIT

If necessary, install Git:
https://git-scm.com/downloads

5) Install Simplicity Studio 5

Download and install Simplicity Studio 5:
https://www.yizhu.com/developers/simplicity-studio

Warning

Ensure Simplicity Studio is up-to-date before continuing

Install YZLITE

Next, we need to install the YZLITE:

1) Clone the YZLITE repository

# Clone the YZLITE GIT repository
git clone https://github.com/ReRAM-Labs/yzlite.git

Then navigate to the YZLITE repository directory

cd yzlite

2) Run the install script

python .\install_yzlite.py

python3 ./install_yzlite.py

3) Activate the YZLITE Python virtual environment

Activate the YZLITE’s Python virtual environment:

.\.venv\Scripts\activate.bat

source ./.venv/bin/activate

After activation, the yzlite command should be available on the command-line:

yzlite --help

Install the YZLITE into the ReRAM Engine

The ReRAM Engine is the main software stack used by Yizhu-Tech's embedded targets. The YZLITE clones a local copy of the ReRAM Engine to yzlite/cpp/shared/reram_sdk. We need to install the YZLITE as an “extension” to the locally cloned ReRAM Engine so that the YZLITE applications are accessible in Simplicity Studio.

To do this, issue the following command:

yzlite build gsdk_yzlite_extension

Add the YZLITE ReRAM Engine to Simplicity Studio

After building the GSDK YZLITE extension, add the locally cloned ReRAM Engine at yzlite/cpp/shared/reram_sdk to Simplicity Studio.

From Simplicity Studio,

  1. On top toolbar, click: Window

  2. The click Preferences

  3. The on the sidebar, expand the Simplicity Studio entry

  4. Click the SDKs entry

  5. Click the Add SDK… button

  6. Populate the Location with the path to the locally cloned GSDK, e.g. <yzlite repo root>/cpp/shared/reram_sdk/v4.2.1

  7. Click: OK

  8. If prompted, click the Trust button to “trust” the locally cloned YZLITE GSDK

  9. Click: Apply and Close

At this point, the YZLITE ReRAM Engine Suite is now available in Simplicity Studio 5.
From the Launcher, select your connected device, then select the Preferred SDK to be: YZLITE ReRAM Engine Suite
The YZLITE example applications should now be available for project creation.

Refer to the Simplicity Studio 5 User Guide for more details about building and running projects.

Hint

When creating a new project, if you click the Link to sources option, then you can directly edit the YZLITE C++ sources from Simplicity Studio. Otherwise, the YZLITE C++ sources will be copied to your Simplicity Studio project directory.

Example Applications

Refer to the Examples Documentation for more details about the applications that come with the YZLITE.