[sdiy] CPLD

[Troy Sheets]

I use Altera's Max Plus software, which is a nice,
all-in-on solution for writing and simulating your logic.  Max Plus comes
with a good reference for their AHDL logic description language.

So no, you don't draw your logic, you write a special software code for it.
You will find it *much* more powerful than drawing your logic.

CPLDs are non-volitle, which means they retain their code when there is no
power, unlike FPGAs, which need to be programmed at each power-up.

CPLDs can be programmed in-circuit with a simple dongle that will work with
any PC with a serial port.

I would recommend Altera's Max Plus software... it will contain everything
you will need to know about AHDL and programming CPLDs.  

-troy

On Mon, Mar 25, 2002 at 06:10:35PM +0100, mark verbos wrote:
> Is a CPLD an ic containing "software gates" or a programmable logic 
> array? I don't really get this stuff (never done any programming) but I 
> always wonder if you could replace huge seas of logic with a single chip 
> that you load software into.
> 
> Is it something like drawing the schematic on the screen and then 
> dumping it into the chip? That would be great for "updating" designs.
> 
> Where can I get real beginner's information on this stuff? Do I have to 
> go to Technical College?
> 
> mark

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