Declan, This is tough. None of the major FPGA vendors support Linux yet to my knowledge. Xilinx and Altera have free software available for their devices up to about 500K gates (this includes memory so its not as big as you might think). Lattice has some free software but they are not quite as generous with the devices supported by their free stuff. I am not sure about QuickLogic at this point. For Linux there is a movement to get some functionality for FPGA design integrated into gEDA. They keep releasing a Verilog compiler but I don't know if you can use it to compile designs yet. Also, you still need the back ends (place & route) from the vendors, and again, Windoz only for the free stuff. Xilinx requires Win2K, not sure about Altera. I think if you want to do FPGAs and want to do it on the cheap you are going to have to run a Win2K system I don't see anyway around it.
At 07:23 AM 4/3/03 -0800, Declan. Moriarty wrote:
On Thu, Apr 03, 2003 at 04:08:35PM +0100, Declan. Moriarty enlightened us thusly
AARGH! what was I thinking? Forget asics - I meant FPGAs. I don't have half a million quid and six months to find out first guesses were wrong.
> Some time past, when I discreetly enquired into microcontrollers, I > was told to go off and buy a Picstart Plus, and start reading about > pics. Others said Amtel. That was fine, and pics worked out for me, > as I'm not pushing the boat out too far in research anyhow. > > What's the equivelant in asics? I'm not looking for the cutting edge, > huge complex devices, or a big investment, but I would like some > functionality; ideally with the options > > 1. to go deeper if required without starting from scratch somewhere > else, and > > 2. To do it in linux, if such is possible. I do have dos and win '98, > but they'll find a way of obsoleting win98 soon, and I really don't > want to buy another windoze - ever. With best Regards, Declan Moriarty.
-Bob
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