IRONSmith

IRONSmith is an interactive GUI-based design application that allows developers, students, and performance engineers to visually construct and simulate AMD AI Engine (AIE) / Ryzen AI NPU programs using the IRON framework.

---

Code Editing Area

---

Kernels Catalog With Preview

---

Messages Panel

---

Requirements

To configure and build IRONSmith, install the following:

• CMake 3.27 or newer
• Ninja
• Python 3
• Qt 6
• QScintilla
• A Unix-like C++ toolchain such as GCC, Clang, Apple Clang, or WSL
• GoogleTest / GMock if you are using presets with tests enabled

Installing Dependencies

macOS (Homebrew)

brew install cmake ninja python qt qscintilla2 googletest

Ubuntu / WSL

sudo apt update
sudo apt install build-essential clang cmake ninja-build python3 python3-venv qt6-base-dev libqscintilla2-qt6-dev libgtest-dev libgmock-dev

Python Virtual Environment

It is recommended to create a local Python virtual environment in the project root:

python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate

Local CMake Configuration

If CMake fails to find Qt 6 or Python 3, define Qt6_DIR and Python3_EXECUTABLE in CMakeUserPresets.json.

Example:

{
  "version": 6,
  "configurePresets": [
    {
      "name": "dev-debug-local",
      "inherits": "dev-debug",
      "cacheVariables": {
        "Python3_EXECUTABLE": "/absolute/path/to/venv/bin/python",
        "Qt6_DIR": "/absolute/path/to/Qt6/lib/cmake/Qt6"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Typical Qt6_DIR values include:

• /opt/homebrew/opt/qt/lib/cmake/Qt6
• /usr/local/opt/qt/lib/cmake/Qt6
• /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/cmake/Qt6

If QScintilla is installed but still not detected, verify that Qt 6 is being found correctly first, then re-run CMake.

Configure Presets

Available cmake --preset configure presets:

• dev-debug
• dev-relWithDeb
• dev-release
• dev-asan

A local machine-specific preset can also be defined, for example:

• dev-debug-local

Build Presets

Available cmake --build presets:

• build-dev-debug
• build-dev-relWithDeb
• build-dev-release
• build-dev-asan

If you define a local configure preset, you can also define a matching local build preset, for example:

• build-dev-debug-local

Test Presets

Available ctest --preset presets:

• test-dev-debug
• test-dev-relWithDeb
• test-dev-asan

A local machine-specific test preset can also be defined, for example:

• test-dev-debug-local

Configure, Build, and Test

Debug build using a local preset

cmake --preset dev-debug-local
cmake --build --preset build-dev-debug-local
ctest --preset test-dev-debug-local

Debug build without a local preset

cmake --preset dev-debug \
  -DPython3_EXECUTABLE=/absolute/path/to/venv/bin/python \
  -DQt6_DIR=/absolute/path/to/Qt6/lib/cmake/Qt6

cmake --build --preset build-dev-debug
ctest --preset test-dev-debug

Troubleshooting

Common configuration issues include:

• Qt 6 not found
  Set Qt6_DIR to the directory containing Qt6Config.cmake.

• Python 3 not found
  Set Python3_EXECUTABLE to the Python interpreter inside your virtual environment.

• QScintilla not found
  Install the package for your platform, confirm that Qt 6 is detected correctly, and re-run configuration.

Authors

• Brock Sorenson
  btsorens@asu.edu
brocksorenson10@gmail.com

• Samer Ali
  swali6@asu.edu

License

IRONSmith is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.

Copyright (C) 2026 Samer Ali and Brock Sorenson

A copy of the full license text should be included in the LICENSE file.

Third-Party Dependencies

IRONSmith depends on third-party software, including:

• Qt
• QScintilla
• nlohmann_json
• GoogleTest / GMock (when tests are enabled)

Please review the licenses of these dependencies before redistribution.