the Vivado IP Integrator to configure and build the hardware specification of their embedded system (processor core, memory-controller, I/O peripherals, etc.) The IP Integrator converts the designer's block design into a synthesizeable RTL description (Verilog or VHDL), and automates the implementation of the embedded system (from RTL to the bitstream-file.) For the MicroBlaze core, Vivado generates an encrypted (non human-readable) netlist. The SDK handles the software that will execute on the embedded system. Powered by the GNU toolchain (GNU Compiler Collection, GNU Debugger), the SDK enables programmers to write, compile, and debug C/C++ applications for their embedded system. Xilinx's tools provides the possibility of running software in simulation, or using a suitable FPGA-board to download and execute on the actual system. Purchasers of Vivado are granted a perpetual license to use MicroBlaze in Xilinx FPGAs with no recurring royalties. The license does not grant the right to use MicroBlaze outside of Xilinx's devices. Alternative compilers and development tools have been made available from Altium but an EDK installation and license is still required. Open source In June 2009, MicroBlaze became the first soft-CPU architecture to be merged into the mainline Linux kernel source tree. This work was performed by Michal Simek and supported by PetaLogix and Xilinx. As of September 2009, MicroBlaze GNU tools support is also being contributed to the Free Software Foundation's mainline repositories. Support for MicroBlaze is included in GCC releases starting with version 4.6 Support was added to LLVM in April 2010, but subsequently removed in July 2013 due to a lack of maintainer. Clones aeMB, implemented in Verilog, LGPL license OpenFire subset, implemented in Verilog, MIT license MB-Lite, implemented in VHDL, LGPL license MB-Lite+, implemented in VHDL, LGPL license myBlaze, implemented in MyHDL, LGPL license SecretBlaze, implemented in VHDL, GPL license Other soft processors Nios II TSK3000 Xtensa LatticeMico32 ARC RISC-V (A number of open source soft cores are available. At least one is packaged for Vivado.) ARM_Cortex-M (Cortex-M1 and Cortex-M3 soft cores are available in Vivado) See also OpenCores - a home for many open source soft processor projects PicoBlaze References External links MicroBlaze on Xilinx website Soft microprocessors