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Message
From: Attila Kinali<attila@k...>
Date: Wed Feb 27 10:20:44 CET 2008
Subject: [oc] Free/Open FPGA/CPLD design?
Moin,On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:22:58 +0100
Uwe Hermann <uwe@h...> wrote:
> However, is there also a free/open FPGA/CPLD design on which you can
> actually _use_ the free soft-cores? I'm not really an FPGA expert
> so maybe I'm missing something, but so far it looks like all the
> underlying FPGAs on which people use free soft-cores are highly
> proprietary and closed systems.
>
> That's at least true as far as the hardware is concerned (layout, schematics,
> chips, etc of which the FPGA consists, as well as JTAG and other
> programmers etc.), and very often also the software used for programming
> these things (often Windows-only, binary-only, proprietary software).
Actually that's is not true. There are many free/open FPGA boards,
programmers and programming software available. The FPGAs are well
documented on the external interface, so you could even build your
own programmer and write your own software easily. That is definitly
not the problem.
The problem lies in the bitstream files. Their format is not documented.
Which means, it would be "easily" possible to build a synthesiser that
produces an EDIF, you could even do some place and route based on the
specs in the data sheet, but you couldn't build a tool that would produce
a bitstream file to program the FPGA.
> Now, my questions is: does such a thing as a free (as in Free
> Hardware, i.e. VHDL/schematics/whatnot under an open license) together
> with free programming hardware and free programming software (and other
> tools) exist? Anybody working on such a thing? If not, what are the
> major obstacles?
Hardware is available. There are lots and lots of FPGA boards out there.
Just google for them. Programming software for bitstream files is also
available.
> The ultimate goal would be to be able to build/design hardware solutions
> which are _really_ 100% Free/Open, even down to the FPGA layer itself.
You are definitly not the first one who wish for this.
Attila Kinali
--
Praised are the Fountains of Shelieth, the silver harp of the waters,
But blest in my name forever this stream that stanched my thirst!
-- Deed of Morred
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