Re: gEDA-user: fpga

[David Hart <dhart155@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 2005-11-01 at 16:52 -0500, Darrell Harmon wrote:
> On Tue, Nov 01, 2005 at 10:26:21PM +0100, Kov?cs Levente wrote:
> > Anyways... I have not yet decided which to use... I'd like to pay the
> > least. Poor guy from a technical university.
> > 
> > Levente
> > 
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> 
> Unfortunately neither is available under the GPL. Xilinx appears
> to be the only one that can be run legitimately under Linux.
> As I said before the Altera Windows version will not run under
> Wine due to their DRM/copy protection software. The Xilinx
> Webpack does run fine under most GNU/Linux distros, and is
> available for download. You can purchase a CD for the cost of
> shipping if the download is too big.
> 
> Whatever you do, please respect the copyrights. It will look bad
> if you do not. If Altera will not release their software for your
> preferred OS at a reasonable cost, either don't use their chips or
> ask that they donate a license to your university.
> 
> I would love to see a GNU FPGA sythesis tool, but realize that is
> unlikely considering the closed nature of the bitstream. It is
> something like selling a microprocessor with a secret instruction
> set.

Though not a GNU project, the JHDL Project is an OpenSource project.
>From their web site at:

    http://www.jhdl.org/overview.html

there is this short teaser about JHDL:

        Simply put, JHDL is a structurally based Hardware Description
        Language (HDL) implemented with JAVA.
        
        Available appendages to the JHDL circuit model include a set of
        tools for debugging, simulating, testing and interfacing to the
        circuit, both as it exists in simulation ("in software",) and
        while the program is executing on an FPGA ("in hardware.")
        
        In its current state JHDL includes:
        * a library that supports Xilinx 4K, Virtex, and Virtex II
        series devices.

I'd be interested in your assessment of this tool. I haven't used it yet
myself, but it looks to be a great tool for looking into FPGA
technology.

> 
> In the project I am currently working on, I am trying to do most
> of the work in a DSP rather than the FPGA so users can make more
> modifications without having to install non free sofware.
> 
> Darrell Harmon
> http://dlharmon.com
-- 
David Hart <dhart155@xxxxxxxxxxx>