The open-source hardware design ecosystem has matured significantly in recent years, driven by a decentralized model that fosters collaboration and innovation. This evolution has enabled the integration of open-source Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools, methodologies, and Process Design Kits (PDKs), supporting complete design flows for multiple technology nodes and diverse application domains. As modern applications ranging from AI to data analytics and beyond demand domain-specific accelerators to reach stringent performance and energy efficiency targets, open-source design environments are becoming essential to shorten design cycles, reduce costs, and foster innovation.

This tutorial focuses on open-source hardware design flows for custom accelerators, emphasizing High-Level Synthesis (HLS) as a key enabler for rapid and reproducible hardware development. Participants will learn how modern open-source tools such as Bambu, SODA-OPT, and OpenROAD can be combined into a complete design flow from high-level (C/C++ or Python) kernels down to ASIC implementation. The session will demonstrate how open-source tools now support full circuit design flows at mature technology nodes, suitable for a wide range of application domains.

Through live demonstrations and practical guidance, attendees will gain hands-on experience with an end-to-end open-source design flow for accelerator development. Beyond practical demonstrations, the tutorial will provide an overview of how open-source methodologies are transforming education, training, and research in hardware design. The session will highlight ongoing initiatives and funded projects that strengthen the open hardware ecosystem, foster collaboration, and define long-term priorities for its growth. The tutorial will conclude with a brief overview of current and future research directions, inspiring participants to explore and contribute to the next generation of open-source EDA tools.