According to the Digilent Installation Guide, Vitis is recommended, as Vivado alone doesn’t include all the necessary tools (see the screenshot below for reference).
What’s your experience or opinion on this? Are there specific use cases or scenarios where I should choose Vitis over Vivado — or vice versa?
My Setup:
Hi,
Vivado is used for making hardware design. Vitis generally used for test/debug the design and create a working environment (In my opinion, it is especially useful if you are using PS-PL integration). Moreover, it comes with HLS, which you can use C/C++ for generating IPs. I am leaving some tutorials that can be helpful in your case.
MicroZed Chronicles: Getting Up and Running with Vitis
Debugging Accelerated Apps using Emulation in Vitis 2021.2
BTW, I would recommend using Linux OS than Windows if possible.
Best
Hey @mtsanic, thanks a lot again for your support (it really helps me a lot) 
As a classic starter project, I’d like to work on something that touches both the PL and PS parts—something simple like turning on LEDs via custom logic in the PL, controlled by a C application running on the ARM core.
So in my case, would you go with Vitis (see the screenshot below “Select Product to Install”)?
BTW: Thanks for the links! Alright, I’ll switch over to a Linux OS.
Hi @ACDC ,
Unless I have a space problem, I would install Vitis, as it will give more freedom afterwards.
In your case, I think you definitely need Vitis as it will shorten your debugging.
Best
Thanks so much! Which Linux OS would you recommend — Mint, Ubuntu, or something else?
I only used Ubuntu before. If you are comfortable with anything else on the recommended OS, that would also work I believe.
There are several issues with installing on Ubuntu though (need to install more dependencies), I don’t know whether they exist for other OS. Check out these links for installation, otherwise you would lose time.
How to Install AMD FPGA Tools in x86 Ubuntu VM on M2 Mac
Vitis+PetaLinux 2022.1 & KRS 1.0 Install on Ubuntu 22.04
Vivado, Vitis, & PetaLinux 2024.2 Install on Ubuntu
All link nearly has the same depedencies. So, they should be fine if you are using Ubuntu.
Best
thx a lot!!!
@mtsanic One last question (hopefully) regarding the installation:
Just to be safe, I’m planning to download the image before starting the installation.
Is it okay if I download the image on a Windows PC first, and then later use it to install it on a Linux PC?
It should be. As long as you add the Linux option. It is rather big file though.
Best
Hi @mtsanic,
I have two quick questions regarding the installation process:
Question.1:
I’m currently using Windows 10 Pro, Version 2009. I noticed that this version isn’t listed — does that mean it’s not officially supported (see the red arrow in the screenshot below)? Would you still recommend giving it a try and proceeding with the installation? BTW: Your recommendation to install it on a Linux machine — I’ll follow up on that later.
Question.2:
When it comes to customizing the installation, what is the minimal setup required for the PYNQ-Z1 board? I’ve selected only Zynq-7000 and Cable Drivers (see the red arrow in the screenshot below). Is this selection sufficient, or should I include anything else before proceeding?
THX and BR
Hi @ACDC,
Q1) There is no harm in trying. Sometimes, they work but there can be issues as well. Don’t have much experience with Vitis on Windows OS.
Q2) If you are only going to use PYNQ-Z1, that should be enough. Make sure yo check model composer if you are going to use Simulink or something. You can always install more boards and tool later on.
Best
thanks a lot !!!
