Unified FPGA Development Suite
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From: Jon Slaughter on 9 Oct 2009 22:18 Is there a development suite that is good but can target multiple fpga manufactures? I don't really want to install a bunch of 1GB+ light versions for each manufacture just to see which one is best. In fact I can't even get libero to run because it crashes on startup. Also, know of any links for DIY fpga programmers? How hard is it to program? I figured that one just has to feed a bitstream into the fpga similar to how a pic is programmed(or most devices actually). Looking at the proASIC's makes me think it's a bit different but I haven't found any conclusive way to program them except by using DirectC or the STAPL Player. Since I'm experimenting with these different manufactures I don't want to have to buy a programmer for each chip. For as much as they cost I could get nanoboard with 10^10x the functionality.
From: Jon Slaughter on 9 Oct 2009 22:43 "Jon Slaughter" <Jon_Slaughter(a)Hotmail.com> wrote in message news:haoqug$35j$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... > Is there a development suite that is good but can target multiple fpga > manufactures? I don't really want to install a bunch of 1GB+ light > versions > for each manufacture just to see which one is best. In fact I can't even > get > libero to run because it crashes on startup. > > Also, know of any links for DIY fpga programmers? How hard is it to > program? I figured that one just has to feed a bitstream into the fpga > similar to how a pic is programmed(or most devices actually). Looking at > the proASIC's makes me think it's a bit different but I haven't found any > conclusive way to program them except by using DirectC or the STAPL > Player. > Since I'm experimenting with these different manufactures I don't want to > have to buy a programmer for each chip. For as much as they cost I could > get > nanoboard with 10^10x the functionality. BTW, I forgot to mention that I want to program in C++. Pure C++ but SystemC or similar if necessary.
From: Jon Slaughter on 9 Oct 2009 22:54 Looking at > the proASIC's makes me think it's a bit different but I haven't found any > conclusive way to program them except by using DirectC or the STAPL > Player. Which is probably going to create a bit of work to create a programmer unless someone has already done it for the pic's.
From: Charlie E. on 10 Oct 2009 00:42 On Fri, 9 Oct 2009 21:43:11 -0500, "Jon Slaughter" <Jon_Slaughter(a)Hotmail.com> wrote: > >"Jon Slaughter" <Jon_Slaughter(a)Hotmail.com> wrote in message >news:haoqug$35j$1(a)news.eternal-september.org... >> Is there a development suite that is good but can target multiple fpga >> manufactures? I don't really want to install a bunch of 1GB+ light >> versions >> for each manufacture just to see which one is best. In fact I can't even >> get >> libero to run because it crashes on startup. >> >> Also, know of any links for DIY fpga programmers? How hard is it to >> program? I figured that one just has to feed a bitstream into the fpga >> similar to how a pic is programmed(or most devices actually). Looking at >> the proASIC's makes me think it's a bit different but I haven't found any >> conclusive way to program them except by using DirectC or the STAPL >> Player. >> Since I'm experimenting with these different manufactures I don't want to >> have to buy a programmer for each chip. For as much as they cost I could >> get >> nanoboard with 10^10x the functionality. > >BTW, I forgot to mention that I want to program in C++. Pure C++ but SystemC >or similar if necessary. > Ok, take a look at Altium. I think they only really support three manufacturers, but for $399 you can get their Xilinx development board to try things out! Charlie
From: krw on 10 Oct 2009 01:04
On Fri, 9 Oct 2009 21:18:47 -0500, "Jon Slaughter" <Jon_Slaughter(a)Hotmail.com> wrote: >Is there a development suite that is good but can target multiple fpga >manufactures? I don't really want to install a bunch of 1GB+ light versions >for each manufacture just to see which one is best. In fact I can't even get >libero to run because it crashes on startup. I had to download Libero four times at home before it would run. It worked fine at work though. You can use Synplify, or a number of others, as the front end tool. If you buy the license directly from Synopsis with the necessary libraries for all vendors, but you're stuck with the manufacturer's tools for the back end. Be warned, this approach is not for the poor and is generally only done by those that either need really big devices (and pay through the nose already) or need really fine tuned logic. >Also, know of any links for DIY fpga programmers? Just the download cable? Sure, do a web search. I think even opencores has a design for a JTAG cable. I saw it somewhere recently anyway. My time is worth more than $50 or $100 though. >How hard is it to program? Not sure what you're looking for. Programming the device is easy. Creating the files is impossible (without the manufacturer's tools). >I figured that one just has to feed a bitstream into the fpga >similar to how a pic is programmed(or most devices actually). FOr SRAM based designs you have to do this every time you power on. They generally have a choice of programming methods. Small devices will use either JTAG or a serial flash interface. Larger devices will add a parallel interface option. Flash based devices (CPLDs or FPGAs) tend to use JTAG. You can either program them using a USB/JTAG cable or via an embedded micro (they have the tools to embed the JTAG app). >Looking at >the proASIC's makes me think it's a bit different but I haven't found any >conclusive way to program them except by using DirectC or the STAPL Player. USB to JTAG cable. It's a flash based device so you don't have to program it on each power up, though it's a good idea to be able to update it in-system, so STAPL is in the cards. >Since I'm experimenting with these different manufactures I don't want to >have to buy a programmer for each chip. For as much as they cost I could get >nanoboard with 10^10x the functionality. IIRC Actel's download cable is $50 or so. Altera's is $150. It's not that big of a deal. JTAG cables for UCs have similar costs. Anyway, you might try opencores or try a web search. |