Specifications

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SOPC Builder
Altera’s Nios II is a soft processor is defined in a hardware description language. It can be
implemented in Altera’s FPGA devices by using the Quartus II CAD system. To implement a
useful system it is necessary to add other functional units such as memories, input/output
interfaces, timers, and communications interfaces. To facilitate the implementation of such
systems, it is useful to have computer-aided-design (CAD) software for implementing a system-
on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC). Altera’s SOPC Builder is the software needed for this task.
Altera Debug Client
For implementing a particular application, an application program has to loaded and run in the
Nios II system. This is done by using a software called altera debug client. Altera debug client,
is used to compile, assemble, download and debug programs for Altera’s Nios II processor.
The debug client provides functionality that allows the user to:
• Examine and modify register and memory contents.
• Disassemble the machine code present in any memory region.
• Single step through each assembly language instruction in the program.
• Set breakpoints that stop the execution of a program when certain instructions are reached or
when certain data addresses are accessed.
• Set watch expressions and watch their values at different points in the execution of the
program.