Honored Contributor
Honored ContributorQuartus supports converting .sof files into .rbf (raw binary files). The .sof files are only for use with Quartus programmer.
However, before you get too excited, Altera don't publish details of their JTAG programming. This isn't how Altera intend you to put MAX 10 devices to use. There are 3rd party hardware/software solutions that will allow you to program FPGA's via JTAG. So, it is possible. However, I'm not aware of any that publish how they do this or the JTAG protocol required. Programming a device from a CPU really requires a device with a Passive Programming (PS) interface. All the other FPGA families support this - Cyclone, Stratix, Arria. I suggest you consider Cyclone. Then the solution is simple and cheaper. If you really need MAX 10 (analogue features?) then I think you need to reconsider your requirements. If you do want to be able to update the design remotely, via a CPU, then you need to seriously consider the solutions Altera publish - the UART & I2C options you've already found. Alternatively, solve any analogue requirements another way and host it from a Cyclone device. MAX 10 is simply not intended to be used in the way you want. Cheers, Alex
