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Mail Archives: geda-user/2012/10/22/17:58:21

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From: Kai-Martin Knaak <knaak AT iqo DOT uni-hannover DOT de>
Subject: Re: [geda-user] FPGA / CPLD development with Linux
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2012 23:57:15 +0200
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David Collins wrote:

> The most obvious issues seem to be:
> 1. Will I be able to synthesize circuits for these devices using Icarus
> Verilog?

I don't know. Since we are locatd in europe, we go the VHDL way ;-)


> and 2. Are there open-source tools for working with the Altera
> JTAG USB-blaster?

Last time I checked, the answer to almost anything practical regarding 
open sourced software connected to FPGAs was a resounding "No, none, nay". 

We do our FPGA project on linux. But we use Alteras Quartus2 suite, which 
is as closed source as it gets. This is by far the most elephant like 
software I have ever used. It took me an afternoon just to achieve a 
"hello world" when I startesd completely uninitiated.
But in the end, it does its job...


> Also, is there a particular FPGA or development kit you would recommend?

For first prototyping and learning purposes, we use the smaller of the 
Altera cyclone2 development kits: DK-CYCII-2C20N
It sets you back by about 200 ?. But there is a host of on board 
I/O-options Some RAM, a dedicated processor to automatically write to the 
FPGA on load and even a segmented LED display.


> Would I be better off with a Xilinx device?

I'd say: Go with whatever your first level of support prefers for their 
own work. In our case, we can connect to an University institute for 
programmable devices. They mainly develop with Altera hardware. And they 
program in VHDL. 


> If anyone has experience developing for CPLDs with Linux, I am
> interested in advice on that also.

One nice aspect with Quartus is, it can synthesize for any device in the 
Altera hardware lineup. Programms can be tested and debugged on the 
cyclone2 of the devel board even if the intended target is one of the  
CPLDs.

---<)kaimartin(>---


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