Hello my dear FPGA experts, I would like to start a digital logic design (maybe will buy a Xilinx Spartan 3E or Altera Starter Kit). But I cannot use non-open source software because of processors on my host computers. I have PowerPCs and even some other CPU types (non x86 compatible). I have Gentoo Linux installed on all my computers, all software is builded from source files. I cannot use precompiled binaries because of non x86 architecture of my processors. My question is: Is it possible to design a digital logic systems using only open source software, that I can build from scratch ??? What is about open source drivers for JTAG or USB connection with some popular FPGA Development Boards?
No, it isn't possible. There is an x86 Linux version of Xilinx ISE, but it's not open source, so with PPC you're out of luck.
@ psihodelia, The engineering world operates with PCs, 8086 compatible Intel PCs, for their flexibilty with the hardware. Since these machines are not that expensive, I suggest either you get such a machine, perhaps a used one from ebay, or forget engineering alltogether. Sorry.
I am from university world and we prefer to use clear and open systems, that could be studied and improved. That's why we use Open Source solutions.
>The engineering world operates with PCs
It did come to this, right. Bill overcame us. 10 years ago, we had
running unix system beeing able to do nearly every engineering and
scientific opration desired with. Nowadays we have Windows!
The only refuge for real good computer architecture is the multimedia
area especially graphics. Here, MAC ist the dominator.
@ Tom >running unix system beeing able to do nearly every engineering and >scientific opration desired with. Nowadays we have Windows! But when you'r not a UNIX-Freak, you are off the business. The god old days . . . ;-) >The only refuge for real good computer architecture is the multimedia >area especially graphics. Here, MAC ist the dominator. Urban legend. The days of MAC superiority in the multimedia sector are gone a long time ago. PC have more than EGA and beeper sound nowadays. Same for the software. Regards Falk
no - it is not possible. in the very last step of place and route you usually use vendor tools. We synthesized with (non-opensource) Preciscion RTL (x86) or Leonardo Spectrum (SPARC) and had P+R with Altera Quartus or Xilinx ISE (both x86)(also non-opensource). Even if you would implement your own open-source synthesis tool - you still don't have deep knowledge of the chip for P+R and writing bitstream files.
actually IT IS possible just not very reasonable Atmel 40K/94K full bitstream documenation is obtainable and tools feasible as well, there was even one project offering 94k dev board and open tools (the project is unfortunatly dead/vanished by now) Antti
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