So I scored a Digilent Basys2 FPGA development board for $2 at the thrift store! What a strange find
I didn't know what it was at first other than the fact it looked cool.
I downloaded the "Adept" software and ran the test program and everything seems to work. But I know nothing
about FPGA programming at all. It seems like it is programmed in something called Verilog. It is really above my head
though. Another thing is how does Verilog get "compiled"?
Wow, some thrift store! I definitely need to get out more 
Yeah not bad. Also found a universal card reader new in package for $4
Now I need to figure out what software I need to use this board
Verilog doesn't get "Compiled", it gets "Synthesized" 
That board uses a "Spartan 3E" so you will need to download the Xilinx ISE webpack edition. I'd use version 2012.4 as they changed everything around after that.
https://secure.xilinx.com/webreg/register.do?group=dlc&htmlfile=&emailFile=&cancellink=&eFrom=&eSubject=&version=2012.4&akdm=1&filename=Xilinx_ISE_DS_14.4_P.49d.3.0.tar
Download that and install the "Webpack" version of it which is free.
You can also get the schematic/manual and other documentation (including a User Constraints File which describes pin locations) for the board here:
http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?Prod=BASYS2
WTF?
US export regulations require that your First Name, Last Name, Company Name and Shipping Address be verified before Xilinx can fulfill your request. Please provide accurate and complete information for immediate processing. Sorry, addresses with Post Office Boxes and names/addresses with Non-Roman Characters with accents such as grave, tilde or colon are not supported by US export compliance systems.
That's ridiculous. And the download is over 3GB
What a bunch of crap
smeezekitty:
WTF?
I imagine that FPGAs are very much applicable to various smart weaponry.
So are resistors and capacitors. I agree, it is crap. This may be a restriction imposed by an authority higher than Xilinx management, so they may not be able to do anything about it, but still. It's a blank IC, not 3 kilos of enriched unobtainium.
This is awful close to my #1 pet peeve of all time -- how the building blocks of modern technology are often held at arm's length from hobbyists. Before I was born, you could go down to a local retail shop and buy parts to fix your TV or build your own stereo system. Now you can't buy a Dolby Digital decoder IC without an NDA and small fortune in license fees.
On the upside, at least a segment of DIY-friendly companies and independent enthusiasts are doing everything they can to put tools back in the hands of the common man, albeit they often have to traverse a minefield of patents to do so.
And 3GB for anything but a movie, game, or other media library is pretty excessive. What is this, an HP printer driver? 
Its about 8GB once installed 
Kind of ridiculous, but a necessary evil.
So are resistors and capacitors. I agree, it is crap. This may be a restriction imposed by an authority higher than Xilinx management, so they may not be able to do anything about it, but still. It's a blank IC, not 3 kilos of enriched unobtainium.
The restriction is most likely imposed by the US government. Although I tend to doubt that it was that broad. Probably Xlinx just wants to cover their butt.
FOSS FTW!
This is awful close to my #1 pet peeve of all time -- how the building blocks of modern technology are often held at arm's length from hobbyists. Before I was born, you could go down to a local retail shop and buy parts to fix your TV or build your own stereo system. Now you can't buy a Dolby Digital decoder IC without an NDA and small fortune in license fees.
Absolutely agree. The government is so out of touch with what goes on in the real world it is crazy. And of course there is the huge corporations that lobby the government. And when in doubt just blame it on preventing terrorism. I guess I am ranting now
And 3GB for anything but a movie, game, or other media library is pretty excessive. What is this, an HP printer driver? smiley-razz
Its about 8GB once installed smiley
Kind of ridiculous, but a necessary evil.
It shouldn't be a necessary evil. I would gladly download a stripped down package with more limited tools and only support for certain FPGAs if it means saving several GB of space as well as bandwidth.
What we really need is to ditch this proprietary garbage and have full open source development.
The Xilinx forum(s) are pretty good IIRC if you need help.
As for the download, I've got the code from a couple of those PGA vendors on DVD for no charge.
Rob
If you register at Xilinx you will get the latest DVD free of charge in few days..
Is there a "tiny" FPGA package where one can get their feet wet without an 8GB install? It could support fewer chips, less optimization, and so on. A sort of "FPGAduino IDE" ?
westfw:
Is there a "tiny" FPGA package where one can get their feet wet without an 8GB install? It could support fewer chips, less optimization, and so on. A sort of "FPGAduino IDE" ?
That's what I was hoping. 8 GB is a lot especially because all my disk drives are over 60% full
I think you will still need the same IDE regardless of the chip size. (Xilinx is 4.2GB)
There are a couple of Arduino shields with FPGAs on them, http://papilio.cc/ for example. I always thought I'd get one because I'd love to play with FPGAs but somehow never got around to it.
There was a time when you programmed the small chips (20v10 etc) in PALASM which IIRC was just a simple text file, but you needed a $4000 programmer. I'm talking 25 years ago though, maybe that has evolved into something flash based that costs nothing, as the CPUs have over that time.
Rob
Graynomad:
There was a time when you programmed the small chips (20v10 etc) in PALASM which IIRC was just a simple text file, but you needed a $4000 programmer. I'm talking 25 years ago though, maybe that has evolved into something flash based that costs nothing, as the CPUs have over that time.
From what I read it is stored in volatile ram in the FPGA and has to be loaded by an external chip each run. For this board this is done by an atmega AT90 series
Not exactly expensive though
stored in volatile ram in the FPGA and has to be loaded by an external chip each run.
That's true for many (maybe most) of them, the Lattice MACHX02 series I was looking at recently (amazing chips BTW, built in hard timer, SPI and I2C) store the "program" in internal flash so it's a one-chip solution on your board. You can however load it externally if that's better for your app.
I planned to have the board's CPU download from the PC and flash the FPGA in-situ. But it all got too complicated
Rob
I am using Xilinx ISE for messing with CPLDs in my few designs, and I'm working with full ISE install. Yes, it is heavy, but everything works, so you may focus on actual work. Mind the silicon compilers (synthesizers) are much more complex than C compilers - there is a lot of various stuff involved into.. I tried with other IDEs (other FPGA vendors) in past and all are of the same weight.
So when you are serious with your intention, ask a vendor to send you a DVD with the install (when you cannot download it) and simply start to work..
You will need a programmer, with Xilinx the easiest way is the parallel port programmer supported by ISE directly, you may wire it in 10 minutes (5 resistors and 4 diodes). When not having LPT, you may find a FT232R based programmer, or arduino based one, etc. etc.
If you are new in digital electronics, or in FPGA, or in VHDL/Verilog, the CPLDs might be the good starting point for you - it would be a looong way to go for you until be able to mess with Spartans or higher The cheapest XC9572XL breakout boards cost $10-15 incl. shipping.. And the design process (and tools used) is the same as with an FPGA..
pito:
I am using Xilinx ISE for messing with CPLDs in my few designs, and I'm working with full ISE install. Yes, it is heavy, but everything works, so you may focus on actual work. Mind the silicon compilers (synthesizers) are much more complex than C compilers - there is a lot of various stuff involved into.. I tried with other IDEs (other FPGA vendors) in past and all are of the same weight.
So when you are serious with your intention, ask a vendor to send you a DVD with the install (when you cannot download it) and simply start to work..
You will need a programmer, with Xilinx the easiest way is the parallel port programmer supported by ISE directly, you may wire it in 10 minutes (5 resistors and 4 diodes). When not having LPT, you may find a FT232R based programmer, or arduino based one, etc. etc.
If you are new in digital electronics, or in FPGA, or in VHDL/Verilog, the CPLDs might be the good starting point for you - it would be a looong way to go for you until be able to mess with Spartans or higher
I already have a FPGA development board with USB programming. That's why I started this thread.
Rapa nui as in this place: Easter Island - Wikipedia
Is so then you are the only person I have ever heard from from there AFAIK