2. HLS tools exist[0][1][2] to convert C to HLD for FPGA programming, these results are used in production designs. As @jangray says below, debug tools are sold

2. HLS tools exist[0][1][2] to convert C to HLD for FPGA programming, these results are used in production designs. As @jangray says below, debug tools are sold by commercial vendors as a value-added capability for production teams; it's not a "freemium" market. [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-level_synthesis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-level_synthesis [1] http://www.xilinx.com/products/design-tools/vivado/integration/esl-design/index.htm http://www.xilinx.com/products/design-tools/vivado/integrati... [2] http://www.synopsys.com/Systems/BlockDesign/HLS/Pages/default.aspx http://www.synopsys.com/Systems/BlockDesign/HLS/Pages/defaul...