diff --git a/calyx-backend/src/backend_opt.rs b/calyx-backend/src/backend_opt.rs
index 166189fb1a..f11c73374f 100644
--- a/calyx-backend/src/backend_opt.rs
+++ b/calyx-backend/src/backend_opt.rs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ pub enum BackendOpt {
     Sexp,
     Yxi,
     Firrtl,
+    PrimitiveUses,
     None,
 }
 
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ fn backends() -> Vec<(&'static str, BackendOpt)> {
         ("sexp", BackendOpt::Sexp),
         ("yxi", BackendOpt::Yxi),
         ("firrtl", BackendOpt::Firrtl),
+        ("primitive-uses", BackendOpt::PrimitiveUses),
         ("none", BackendOpt::None),
     ]
 }
@@ -74,6 +76,7 @@ impl ToString for BackendOpt {
             Self::Yxi => "yxi",
             Self::Calyx => "calyx",
             Self::Firrtl => "firrtl",
+            Self::PrimitiveUses => "primitive-uses",
             Self::None => "none",
         }
         .to_string()
diff --git a/calyx-backend/src/lib.rs b/calyx-backend/src/lib.rs
index 2701920dbd..e2b9bf2f51 100644
--- a/calyx-backend/src/lib.rs
+++ b/calyx-backend/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 //! Backends for the Calyx compiler.
 mod backend_opt;
 mod firrtl;
+mod primitive_uses;
 mod traits;
 mod verilog;
 mod yxi;
 
 pub use backend_opt::BackendOpt;
 pub use firrtl::FirrtlBackend;
+pub use primitive_uses::PrimitiveUsesBackend;
 pub use traits::Backend;
 pub use verilog::VerilogBackend;
 pub use yxi::YxiBackend;
diff --git a/calyx-backend/src/primitive_uses.rs b/calyx-backend/src/primitive_uses.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8867e2f0d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/calyx-backend/src/primitive_uses.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+//! Primitive instantiations backend for the Calyx compiler.
+//!
+//! Transforms an [`ir::Context`](crate::ir::Context) into a JSON file that
+//! records the unique primitive instantiations in a program.
+//! Usage: -b primitive-inst [-o <OUTPUT_FILE>]
+//! Adapted from resources.rs.
+
+use std::{collections::HashSet, io};
+
+use crate::traits::Backend;
+use calyx_ir as ir;
+use calyx_utils::{CalyxResult, OutputFile};
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub struct PrimitiveUsesBackend;
+
+impl Backend for PrimitiveUsesBackend {
+    fn name(&self) -> &'static str {
+        "primitive_uses"
+    }
+
+    /// OK to run this analysis on any Calyx program
+    fn validate(_ctx: &ir::Context) -> CalyxResult<()> {
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Don't need to take care of this for this pass
+    fn link_externs(
+        _ctx: &ir::Context,
+        _file: &mut OutputFile,
+    ) -> CalyxResult<()> {
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn emit(ctx: &ir::Context, file: &mut OutputFile) -> CalyxResult<()> {
+        let main_comp = ctx.entrypoint();
+
+        let mut primitive_set: HashSet<PrimitiveUse> = HashSet::new();
+
+        gen_primitive_set(ctx, main_comp, &mut primitive_set);
+
+        write_json(primitive_set.clone(), file)?;
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Hash, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+struct PrimitiveUse {
+    name: String,
+    params: Vec<PrimitiveParam>,
+}
+
+#[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Hash, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+struct PrimitiveParam {
+    param_name: String,
+    param_value: u64,
+}
+
+/// Accumulates a set with each primitive with a given set of parameters
+/// in the program with entrypoint `main_comp`.
+fn gen_primitive_set(
+    ctx: &ir::Context,
+    main_comp: &ir::Component,
+    primitive_set: &mut HashSet<PrimitiveUse>,
+) {
+    for cell in main_comp.cells.iter() {
+        let cell_ref = cell.borrow();
+        match &cell_ref.prototype {
+            ir::CellType::Primitive {
+                name,
+                param_binding,
+                ..
+            } => {
+                let curr_params = param_binding
+                    .iter()
+                    .map(|(param_name, param_size)| PrimitiveParam {
+                        param_name: param_name.to_string(),
+                        param_value: *param_size,
+                    })
+                    .collect();
+                let curr_primitive = PrimitiveUse {
+                    name: name.to_string(),
+                    params: curr_params,
+                };
+                (*primitive_set).insert(curr_primitive);
+            }
+            ir::CellType::Component { name } => {
+                let component = ctx
+                    .components
+                    .iter()
+                    .find(|comp| comp.name == name)
+                    .unwrap();
+                gen_primitive_set(ctx, component, primitive_set);
+            }
+            _ => (),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Write the collected set of primitive instantiations to a JSON file.
+fn write_json(
+    primitive_set: HashSet<PrimitiveUse>,
+    file: &mut OutputFile,
+) -> Result<(), io::Error> {
+    let created_vec: Vec<PrimitiveUse> = primitive_set.into_iter().collect();
+    serde_json::to_writer_pretty(file.get_write(), &created_vec)?;
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/src/cmdline.rs b/src/cmdline.rs
index 61cb1fb4fd..93d9f5b012 100644
--- a/src/cmdline.rs
+++ b/src/cmdline.rs
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ use argh::FromArgs;
 use calyx_backend::SexpBackend;
 use calyx_backend::{
     xilinx::{XilinxInterfaceBackend, XilinxXmlBackend},
-    Backend, BackendOpt, FirrtlBackend, MlirBackend, ResourcesBackend,
-    VerilogBackend, YxiBackend,
+    Backend, BackendOpt, FirrtlBackend, MlirBackend, PrimitiveUsesBackend,
+    ResourcesBackend, VerilogBackend, YxiBackend,
 };
 use calyx_ir as ir;
 use calyx_utils::{CalyxResult, Error, OutputFile};
@@ -170,6 +170,10 @@ impl Opts {
                 let backend = FirrtlBackend;
                 backend.run(context, self.output)
             }
+            BackendOpt::PrimitiveUses => {
+                let backend = PrimitiveUsesBackend;
+                backend.run(context, self.output)
+            }
             BackendOpt::Calyx => {
                 ir::Printer::write_context(
                     &context,