Software development-based compilation flow for hardware implementation

A software development-based compilation flow for circuit design may include executing, using a processor, a makefile including a plurality of rules for hardware implementation. Responsive to executing a first rule of the plurality of rules, a source file including a kernel specified in a high level programming language may be selected; and, an intermediate file specifying a register transfer level implementation of the kernel may be generated using the processor. Responsive to executing a second rule of the plurality of rules, a configuration bitstream for a target integrated circuit may be generated from the intermediate file using the processor. The configuration bitstream includes a compute unit circuit implementation of the kernel.