Getting started...

Jon Slaughter wrote:

> 
> Also, Their is free software for the SystemC that you can "Synthesize" code. 
> I'm not sure how far it goes though.
> 
> http://www.systemc.org/downloads/standards/
> 
> I prefer to program in C++ since I have been programming in C/C++/C# for 
> many years. While my simple applications do not require oop it's always nice 
> to have when things get more complex.
> 
> Anyways, thanks for the help...

Hi Jon,
   as far as I know there is limited free SystemC synthesis. There's a 
demo here:

http://system-synthesis.org/fossy/home

which will synthesize a limited amount of code to VHDL.

Otherwise all the available synthesis tools are paid for (e.g. Forte 
Cynthesizer, SystemCrafter, CatapultC).

I would suggest that even if you had access to one of these tools, you 
still need to understand hardware; i.e. you will to a greater or lesser 
extent have to write your C/C++/SystemC in a "hardware style". Support 
for object orientated features of C++/SystemC is limited, so in that 
sense you are probably better off using VHDL or Verilog,

regards
Alan

-- 
Alan Fitch
Senior Consultant

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"Brian Drummond" <brian_drummond@btconnect.com> wrote in message 
news:htt5d59gfe9idqi5a2go9vfg1pmkoodu6h@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:37:57 -0700 (PDT), "Antti.Lukats@googlemail.com"
> <antti.lukats@googlemail.com> wrote:
>
>>On Oct 12, 1:33 am, Brian Drummond <brian_drumm...@btconnect.com>
>>wrote:
>
>>> If you can't develop in Libero you can't use those FPGAs.
>>> But you may be able to develop in other tools, and then beg a little 
>>> time on a
>>> machine that DOES run Libero.
>>>
>>> Or for $50-100 get another hardware platform. How much is your time 
>>> worth?
>>>
>>> - Brian
>>
>>Brian,
>>
>>I have seen Libero to crash very very seldom (I have one design that
>>crashes actel fitter)
>
> Good to know; I have never tried it (and frankly, I don't think either of 
> us
> would make the same statement about the Xilinx tools!) I was just 
> following
> Jon's statement there.
>
>>hmm.. I havent upgraded to 8.6! could be 8.6 no longer works, unitl
>>8.5 all versions works for sure
>
> Maybe Jon should [up|down]grade to 8.5...
>

Both have the problem. It is an issue with either the memory or the 
licensing manager. I installed it on my XP machine which uses a lot of 
flexlm licensing products and it crashes at the start. I attempted to debug 
the program to see what was causing it and it had something to do with it's 
memory manager(smartmemory IIRC). In any case it crashes which is not may 
fault but a problem with the program.

I installed 8.5 on my vista dual boot and it worked but since I never use 
vista I didn't mess with it much. I went ahead and installed 8.6 hoping it 
would work but same problem. I then installed it on vista and now I get a 
licensing error(saying it's not the right license file or something). I 
attempted to get a new licensing file but never got it in the email and 
haven't bothered with it much.

I guess I can always install 8.5 again on vista but I already have quartus 
installed and it looks better(libero looked like it hadn't been upgraded 
since win3.1).

Jon, try this:

http://www.fpga4fun.com/

Giuseppe Marullo