Note: if you are using macOS, the graphical interface might not be usable since it requires the X11 library. In this case, open the Makefile and change the line 10 "ENABLE_GRAPHICS = true" to false.
VPR requires a minimum of one XML file that specifies the architecture of the FPGA, and one BLIF file that specifies the logic circuit to be put on the FPGA.
[//todo]: # (make sure the circuits are available)
While in the `vpr` directory, run the tool on some example files:
If a graphic environment is available, this will bring up a display of how the circuit is being placed on the FPGA. Press the `Proceed` button to step to the final placement, press `Proceed` again to step to the routing. Press the `Exit` button to exit the display.
To run VPR without the display, use the command `-nodisp`
VPR creates a number of files in the same location as the BLIF file when it is run. The `place` file shows how the circuit was placed on the FPGA; the `route` file shows how the logic was routed on the FPGA; the `net` file shows the wiring.
By calling this script (if not modified), we call FPGA-SPICE on an architecture built on TSMC 40 nm node in typical conditions. By modifying the script, we can do different corners at the same time.
