Quickstart: CUDA using Bayreuth University CUDA Toolchain for Eclipse

I've been trolling through Google for a simple solution in integrating CUDA with Eclipse, and found a University which built an Eclipse plugin. This is a fantastic solution because my previous attempts required me to create my own Makefile (which partially defeats the purpose of using Eclipse!)

Here is my Quickstart for the plugin

Assumptions:

• A fully functional C/C++ working environment (within the Eclipse IDE and on the command line)
• A fully functional CUDA environment (including the CUDA Driver, Toolkit, and SDK
• This assumes you are using OS X (Linux should be quite similar)
  

1. Install the Plugin (Trivial)

• Help --> Install New Software -->
  
• Name = ( for me)
• Location = http://www.ai3.inf.uni-bayreuth.de/software/eclipsecudaqt/updates
• Click on Uncategorized --> Toolchains for CUDA and QT Development
• Accept the License Agreement
• Restart Eclipse
  

2. Add nvcc to your Path

• Go to Eclipse --> Preferences
• Click on C/C++ --> Environment
• Under Environment variables to set --> click Add
• Name = PATH (Note: Make sure PATH are all upper case)
• Value = /usr/local/cuda/bin
• Apply and OK
  

3. Create a new CUDA Project and Setup Compile and Build Environment

• Ctrl + mouse click --> New --> C++ project
• Under Project type box --> Executable --> select Empty Project
• Name your project
• Uncheck the following: Show project types and toolchains only if they are supported on the platform
• Under Toolchains --> select CUDA Toolchain
• Click Next
• Click on Advanced Settings
  
• Under C/C++ Build -->Environment --> Confirm PATH is set from previous step (should be USER: PREFS under Origin Column)
• Under C/C++ Build --> Settings --> Tool Settings Tab --> CUDA NVCC Compiler --> Includes --> add /usr/local/cuda/include
• Under C/C++ Build --> C++ Linker --> change Command from g++ to nvcc
• Under C/C++ Build --> C++ Linker --> Libraries --> add cudart to Libraries (-l) and add /usr/local/cuda/lib to Library search path (-L)
• Apply and OK
  

At this point you should have a fully functional CUDA Eclipse environment to develop CUDA Applications. Drop in some pre-built (non SDK dependent code) into the project and build it. If you want to run some of the SDK dependent code (located in /Developer/GPU Computing/C/bin/darwin/release), please follow the instructions located at Life Of A Programmer Geek.

*** UPDATE ***

When attempting to build my project, I was getting the following error message during the build phase:

make all
Building target: CUDAToolchainProject
ld: unknown option: -oCUDAToolchainProject

I tracked the problem down to not having "whitespaces" in between the following:

• ${OUTPUT_FLAG}${OUTPUT_PREFIX}${OUTPUT}
• This is located at --> --> Properties --> C/C++ Build --> Settings --> C++ Linker
• Under Expert Settings --> Command line pattern

To mitigate the problem ... just add "whitespaces" in between the following:

• ${COMMAND} ${FLAGS} ${OUTPUT_FLAG} ${OUTPUT_PREFIX} ${OUTPUT} ${INPUTS}
  

However, I came across another error during the build phase:

Invoking: C++ Linker
g++ -L/usr/local/cuda/lib -o "CUDAToolchainProject" ./src/cu_mandelbrotCUDA_D.o ./src/cu_mandelbrotCUDA_H.o -lcudart
ld: warning: in ./src/cu_mandelbrotCUDA_D.o, file is not of required architecture
ld: warning: in ./src/cu_mandelbrotCUDA_H.o, file is not of required architecture
ld: warning: in /usr/local/cuda/lib/libcudart.dylib, file is not of required architecture
Undefined symbols:
"_main", referenced from:
start in crt1.10.6.o
ld: symbol(s) not found
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
make: *** [CUDAToolchainProject] Error 1

To mitigate this problem ... I changed the C++ Linker from g++ to nvcc

• Properties --> C/C++ Build --> Settings --> C++ Linker
• Command --> change from g++ to nvcc

The build phase completed successfully and an executable was generated!

The next steps are optional (If you want to follow Eclipse's general project structure, follow the next steps

4. Create Source Folders (Trivial)

• Ctrl + mouse click --> New --> Source Folder
• Name your folder

--

Resources

1. Bayreuth University Website

• http://www.ai3.inf.uni-bayreuth.de/software/eclipsecudaqt/updates

2. NVIDIA CUDA forum: thread 160564

• http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=160564

3. Life Of A Programmer Geek

• http://lifeofaprogrammergeek.blogspot.com/2008/07/using-eclipse-for-cuda-development.html
  

4. Trial & Error