Setup Instructions for ICICLE Backend

This project depends on the ICICLE native backend from the
icicle-snark repository.

Because the backend must be compiled with specific flags you must perform the setup manually before running the code or tests.

TODO: build.rs

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Prerequisites

Ensure the following tools are installed and available in your PATH:

• Git
• CMake
• C/C++ toolchain
• CUDA toolkit (required when using the local CUDA backend)

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1. Clone icicle-snark

git clone https://github.com/ingonyama-zk/icicle-snark.git

2. Build the ICICLE backend

Navigate to the ICICLE directory and configure CMake with the required flags.

Example for the bn254 curve using the local CUDA backend:

cd icicle-snark/icicle

cmake -S . -B build \
  -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
  -DCURVE=bn254 \
  -DCUDA_BACKEND=local

cmake --build build -j

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Changing curves

CMake caches configuration per build directory.

If you re-build icicle switching to different curve (for example bn254 → bls12_377), you must remove the cached FIELDflag:

cmake -S . -B build \
  -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release \
  -DCURVE=bn254 \
  -DCUDA_BACKEND=local

cmake --build build -j

Failing to do this may produce the following error:

CURVE and FIELD should not be defined at the same time unless they are equal

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3. Export the backend path

After a successful build, set the required environment variable:

export ICICLE_BACKEND_INSTALL_DIR=path/to/icicle-snark/icicle/build/backend

This variable must be set before running:

• the application
• tests
• any binaries that depend on ICICLE

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