A new tutorial on Hackster.io provides step-by-step instructions for installing AMD FPGA tools versions 2025.1 and 2025.2 on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, highlighting differences from previous Ubuntu versions and workarounds for compatibility issues. The guide covers Vivado, Vitis, and PetaLinux, noting that PetaLinux will be deprecated in the 2026.2 release.
The tutorial, authored by Whitney Knitter, addresses the installation process for AMD's FPGA development tools on the recently released Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, which introduces changes affecting traditional setup methods. Knitter explains that users must first switch the default shell from Zsh to Bash using the chsh command, as the previous dpkg-reconfigure method no longer functions due to Debian's shift away from debconf. "The annoying thing though is that the dpkg commands all still appear to be available in Ubuntu 24.04 and run without throwing errors. However, the only reason they don't throw any errors is because they aren't actually doing anything," Knitter writes.
Preparation steps include adding 32-bit i386 architecture support and installing updated packages specific to Ubuntu 24.04, such as libtinfo6 instead of libtinfo5. For PetaLinux, a TFTP server must be configured in /etc/xinetd.d, and the user added to the dialout group for USB access. Knitter recommends the Single File Download (SFD) installer over web-based options for reliability, despite its larger size.
Installation begins by running the xsetup script as root, targeting /tools/Xilinx by default. Selecting Vitis installs Vivado, HLS, and other components. For 2025.1, PetaLinux integrates into the main installer, but 2025.2 requires a separate download and manual directory setup. Knitter notes, "PetaLinux is being phased out and will be deprecated with the 2026.2 version."
Ubuntu 24.04 compatibility challenges include manually installing libtinfo5 for PetaLinux builds and disabling kernel restrictions on unprivileged user access via sysctl. Initial builds may fail due to mirror URL issues but succeed on retry. The guide confirms testing on both Ubuntu 24.04 and 22.04, with official support limited to the latter. Knitter advises against mixing tool versions in projects and suggests avoiding long-term PetaLinux use due to its deprecation.
