Forum Discussion
Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor
Honored ContributorProgramming Protocol and Format Specs
Are there available specifications for the entire process of programming an FPGA [protocols/file formats... not programming using an existing utility] (in my case a Cyclone IV)?
Is the file format really an issue, or is it just a placeholder that a programmer converts to JTAG commands (IEEE 1149.1?)? I'm currently working on writing up my own HDL (just for fun and learning [and I've got some other plans for it as well]), but I have no idea what kind of output to produce, as well as how to write the output to the FPGA. Also, I plan on making it cross-platform... however the initial target platform is FreeBSD (so anything Quartus related is irrelevant here, or any tools for that matter... I do realize I am reinventing the wheel). In a perfect world I'll finish writing up some small tools to run from command line. One to compile my language to a binary file, and another to transmit the data to the FPGA. To quickly evaluate how I probably stand on things, assume I'm a close-minded UNIX guy who is fighting the change to massive IDEs and GUIs. -Brandon2 Replies
Altera_Forum--- Quote Start --- Are there available specifications for the entire process of programming an FPGA [protocols/file formats... not programming using an existing utility] (in my case a Cyclone IV)? --- Quote End --- I think there aren't any specs. However, I'm not sure!- Altera_Forum
Gazmodo,
the configuration bitstream format is not documented anywhere. Best forget about that part. In order to upload the configuration bitstream into the FPGA,/PROM, Quartus can convert it into a JAM/STAPL format, which is a standard. Altera even made available source code for a JAM/STAPL player.
