[sdiy] Xilinx 3E webpack and its gotcha's!

[Magnus Danielson]

From: karl dalen <dalenkarl at yahoo.se>
Subject: [sdiy] Xilinx 3E webpack and its gotcha's!
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 00:40:40 +0200 (CEST)
Message-ID: <20060613224041.90020.qmail at web27615.mail.ukl.yahoo.com>

KD,

> Could a kind spirit make up a conclushon list on the
> *gotcha's* and *downthedrain* of this webpack softtware kit?
> 
> Im not interessted to spend weeks and weeks to 
> figuring out trivia things, particularely the *undocumented*
> ones!! (have done that to much with my MSP430 allready).
> 
> Magnus mentioned earlier on something about support of certain devices!

In my judgement is the WebPACK a fair deal. It is a cripple of the real thing,
but within what I consider a fairly reasnoble thing for most lower-end
projects (as compared to the high-end stuff). Just look at this summary:

http://www.xilinx.com/ise/products/webpack_config.htm

Notice the device-list at the top, it should make you happy for quite some
time. The ModelSim XE III Starter is free, but crippled for larger designs,
more or less matching the top sizes of the supported device-list.

Many of the "Yes" check-boxes for the webpack is usually not very heavilly used
if ever used. You get alot of goodies you can do without. The Graphical
Testbench Editor may be a good start for those that is not too "into" the
design-process. I use it sometimes when I'm lazy for my smaller hobby projects.

You *WILL* tripp over stuff and be confused. Good friends doing similar stuff
is recommended. I think there is enought here and at FPGA-synth list.

While there is a schematic editor, I would not recommend using that as the
main input tool, but then again I actually have VHDL training and experience
to fall back on.

If you want to learn FPGAs and get into them, the WebPACK is certainly a cheap
and working way to go. A good and matching board is what one has to consider
and then later actual availability of devices to a DIY-guy. The milage vary
alot there I might add. Grunt!

In the end, I've been using WebPACK on and off over the years now and these
days it is silly how much of a powerful tool they put in your lap. I really
like it and run it myself. I'm happy with it as an overall judgement, but then
again I can always find something to complain about on that and the full-blown.
Considering what I pay for it... happy. ;O)

Cheers,
Magnus