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Mail Archives: geda-user/2012/10/21/22:08:49

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Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2012 22:08:26 -0400
From: gene glick <geneglick AT optonline DOT net>
Subject: Re: [geda-user] FPGA / CPLD development with Linux
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Cc: David Collins <davidcollins78 AT yahoo DOT com>
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On 10/21/2012 07:43 PM, David Collins wrote:
> Hi all. I am hoping to start some FPGA development over the next few months using Linux toolchains - probably Altera FPGAs specifically - and am just looking for some advice.
>
> The most obvious issues seem to be:
>   1. Will I be able to synthesize circuits for these devices using Icarus Verilog?, and
>   2. Are there open-source tools for working with the Altera JTAG USB-blaster?
>
> Also, is there a particular FPGA or development kit you would recommend?
>
> Would I be better off with a Xilinx device?
>
> If anyone has experience developing for CPLDs with Linux, I am interested in advice on that also.
>
> David
>
> http://indigo.uk.to/~david
>
>
>

Well, Icarus and the other commercial tools are a whole bunch different 
from one another. I've used Aldec, for example, it's a great tool but 
very expensive - which let's you single-step through a simulation, set 
breakpoints - just like a software debugging tool. I don't believe 
icaraus has this ability - so you have to use other techniques like 
using print statements, for example, to know what is up. It interfaces 
nicely with GTKwave so you get nice plots. All good stuff - I've done 
one FPGA using Icarus but not actually tested it out in real life. In my 
opinion, the design entry tools from Xilinx and Quartus are junk. Stick 
with an HDL based design and you won't go wrong - if Icarus then you are 
using Verilog.

But should you synthesize with it? Nah. Use Icarus to get your code 
working then use XST or Quartus or whatever to build the parts up.

If you are looking for free, then you can't beat Icarus for design 
simulation + xilinix web-pack or Altera quartus for synthesis and 
place/route.

Xilinx or Altera (or others) is your choice. I like xilinx - but that's 
me. Also, Altera supprt has gone down the crapper in recent years. Maybe 
that's important to you

I don't know about open source tools. But, I am aware of people using 
the FTDI USB chipsets for blasting JTAG. Maybe you can find some people 
making DIY blasters for linux. If you find some, let me know -


hope this is helpful

gene

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