Tutorial: Digital to FPGA 101

[rj45]

I recorded a tutorial video on how to take a design in Digital and get it working on an inexpensive FPGA with open source tools.

I cover:

• The open source FPGA toolchain, what each program is and what it does
  • Yosys, NextPNR, IceStorm, Verilator
• Getting a UART working in Digital, Verilator and the FPGA
• Modifying a Digital design for FPGA
  • Overriding embedded circuits with verilog
  • Using Block RAM (BRAM)
• Exporting to Verilog
• Using a PLL to run the design at an arbitrary clock rate
• Linting the design with Verilator
• Simulating the design in Verilator
  • Including dumping traces for better insight into what every signal is doing
  • Complete with an MIT licensed UART to telnet bridge library I wrote
• Writing a make script to automate building
  • Not everyone likes make, feel free to use whatever you're more comfortable with
• Compiling verilog into a bitstream
• Flashing the FPGA

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcFbFTbngrw