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.. _BUILD:
Building GHDL from Sources
##########################
.. rubric:: Download
GHDL can be downloaded as a `zip-file <https://github.com/ghdl/ghdl/archive/master.zip>`_/`tar-file <https://github.com/ghdl/ghdl/archive/master.tar.gz>`_
(latest 'master' branch) or cloned with ``git clone`` from GitHub. GitHub
offers HTTPS and SSH as transfer protocols. See the :ref:`RELEASE:Sources`
page for further details. The installation directory is referred to as ``GHDLRoot``.
.. rubric:: Available back-ends
GHDL currently supports three different back-ends (code generators):
* mcode - built-in x86(or x86_64) code generator,
* `GCC - Gnu Compiler Collection <http://gcc.gnu.org/>`_, and
* `LLVM - Low-Level Virtual Machine <http://llvm.org/>`_ .
Here is a short comparison, so that you can choose the one you want to use:
+----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Back-end | Pros | Cons |
+============================+============================================================================+=========================================================+
| :ref:`mcode <BUILD:mcode>` | * Very easy to build | * Simulation is slower |
| | * Very quick analysis | * x86_64/i386 only |
| | * Can handle very large designs | |
+----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| :ref:`LLVM <BUILD:llvm>` | * Generated code is faster | * Build is more complex |
| | * Generated code can be debugged (with ``-g``) | |
| | * Easier to build than GCC | |
+----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| :ref:`GCC <BUILD:gcc>` | * Generated code is faster (particularly with ``-O`` or ``-O2``) | * Build is even more complex |
| | * Generated code can be debugged (with ``-g``) | * Analysis can take time (particularly for large units) |
| | * Ported to many platforms (x86, x86_64, PowerPC, SPARC) | * Code coverage collection (``gcov``) is unique to GCC |
+----------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
.. toctree::
:hidden:
Directories
With mcode Backend <mcode/index>
With LLVM Backend <llvm/index>
With GCC Backend <gcc/index>
TestSuites
.. HINT::
The output of both GCC and LLVM is an executable file, but `mcode` does not
generate any. Therefore, if using GCC/LLVM, the call with argument ``-r`` can
be replaced with direct execution of the binary. See section :ref:`USING:QuickStart`.
After making your choice, you can jump to the corresponding section.
However, we suggest you to read :ref:`BUILD:dir_structure` first, so that you
know where the content will be placed and which files are expected to be
created.
.. HINT::
Since GHDL is written in `Ada`, independently of the code generator you use,
the `GNU Ada compiler`, `GNAT GPL`, is required, 2014 (or later) for ``x86``
(32 or 64 bit). `GNAT GPL` can be downloaded anonymously from `libre.adacore.com <http://libre.adacore.com/tools/gnat-gpl-edition/>`_.
Then, untar and run the doinstall script. Alternatively, most GNU/Linux
provide a package named ``gcc-ada`` or ``gcc-gnat``.
.. HINT::
In these instructions, the configure script is executed in the source directory; but you can execute in a different
directory too, like this:
.. CODE:: Bash
$ mkdir ghdl-objs
$ cd ghdl-objs
$ ../path/to/ghdl/configure ...
|
