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----- Original Message -----
From: rtstofer
To: f...@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007 3:49 PM
Subject: [fpga-cpu] Suggestions re: Free Tools
The problem with newbies such as myself is that not only don't they
know anything, they don't even suspect!

I have been using WebPack ISE for about 5 years and it has the
advantage of being free. It works ok but it doesn't include any
simulation tools other than a limited sample (ModelSim) and I'm not
sure it is even installed by default.

>From Hellwig's LogicProbe project I see that Icarus Verilog and
GTKWave are free and can produce a graphical simulation. I was
starting to get a sense of this from the POP11 LiveCD as well.

So, the question is: what other tools are out there that can be used
on various platforms such as Linux, WinXP or Cygwin?

---------------------------------

Symphony is very good, the free version might do what you want:

http://www.symphonyeda.com/

Leon
--
Leon Heller
Amateur radio call-sign G1HSM
Yaesu FT-817ND and FT-857D transceivers
Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
l...@btinternet.com
http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller



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On Fri, 2007-08-24 at 16:17 +0100, Leon wrote:

> Symphony is very good, the free version might do what you want:
>
> http://www.symphonyeda.com/

May I quote from their site?

---------------------------------------------

FREE edition: The download ships with a default license file to enable
the FREE edition. If you download Version 3.0, use the Licensing Wizard
(available after installation) to download a free license. This FREE
license file that ships with Version 3.1 expires on October 1 2007.
Newer builds/releases may extend the FREE licenses beyond this date.
Existing users can use the Licensing Wizard to extend their FREE license
or download and install the newest build and copy over the file
/bin/freelic.txt to /bin/symphony.lic.

Standard/Professional Editions: Requires a license purchase. Your
license file is issued via the Licensing Wizard that is launched from
within Sonata -- the Graphical User Interface.

Trial or Demo mode: Enables standard edition or the professional edition
for a limited amount of time. By default it allows an evaluation period
of 21 days.

----------------------------------------------

So it is neither (unlimited) free nor even open source.
I'm not convinced.

Hellwig


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--- In f...@yahoogroups.com, Hellwig Geisse
wrote:
>
> On Fri, 2007-08-24 at 16:17 +0100, Leon wrote:
>
> > Symphony is very good, the free version might do what you want:
> >
> > http://www.symphonyeda.com/
>
> May I quote from their site?
>
> ---------------------------------------------
>
> FREE edition: The download ships with a default license file to enable
> the FREE edition. If you download Version 3.0, use the Licensing Wizard
> (available after installation) to download a free license. This FREE
> license file that ships with Version 3.1 expires on October 1 2007.
> Newer builds/releases may extend the FREE licenses beyond this date.
> Existing users can use the Licensing Wizard to extend their FREE license
> or download and install the newest build and copy over the file
> /bin/freelic.txt to /bin/symphony.lic.
>
> Standard/Professional Editions: Requires a license purchase. Your
> license file is issued via the Licensing Wizard that is launched from
> within Sonata -- the Graphical User Interface.
>
> Trial or Demo mode: Enables standard edition or the professional edition
> for a limited amount of time. By default it allows an evaluation period
> of 21 days.
>
> ----------------------------------------------
>
> So it is neither (unlimited) free nor even open source.
> I'm not convinced.
>
> Hellwig
>

Yup! I read that.

For five years I have gotten by with just WebPack ISE. My projects
work and I have no issues with continuing down that path. I haven't
missed having simulation because I never had it.

I am not even convinced that all the test bench <-> simulation is
worth the effort. Then again, I'm not sure it isn't. In that view,
it's kind of like JTAG debugging of uC projects. I don't do that
either... For several reasons: I don't have a good solution for
ARM7's, I don't like single stepping (I did all of that I ever wanted
to do with the 8080's), I can't even understand what the compiler is
trying to do (ARM architecture issue) and I just prefer not to put
bugs in the code from the start (I wish!).

I'm retired so purchased software is on my nickel. I would like to
consider free software but I could, if I really needed it, spend the
money for a one year license. If I get interested, I would download
the free version of Symphony (presuming they extend the period), give
it a try and see if it is indispensible. I don't mind paying for my
education - it has never been "free".

If it meant the difference between success and failure for this
project, even the $500 PRO license might be worthwhile. But it has to
be a win/lose situation to spend that kind of money.

Richard



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