PicoBlaze

[mganders]

I was wondering if someone could be so kind as to let me know if they have been able to use the pBlaze IDE to generate files for a Spartan6.

I have tried to do this by;

1. selecting the PicoBlaze3 in the pBlaze settings (since there is no PicoBlaze6 listed)

2. including the Spartan6 "Rom_form.vhd" within my directory

3. adding the following line of code to my psm file.

VHDL "ROM_form.vhd", "pblaze_code.vhd", "testprg"

Unfortunately when I try to synthesize my file 'pblaze_code.vhd' gives numerous errors.

I am able to simulate without problem when I generate my files using kcpsm6.exe and ISIM, but wish to take advantage of the features found in the pBlazeIDE software.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards,

Mike

[eilert]

Hi Mike,

the assembly code for PB3 and PB6 is different, so this wont work.

If your version of pBlaze IDE does not support PB6 you either have to install/wait for a version that supports the PB6 or use the original xilinx tools.

Have a nice synthesis

  Eilert

[mediatronix]

Dera Mike:

There is no, and will not be a, pBlazIDE for the Picoblaze-6. Please have a look at googlecode, where you can find a set of command-line tools for PB3 and PB6, for assembly, disassembly and merging templates. Search for pBlazASM

Henk van Kampen

MediatroniX BV

[bradvan]

I sure want to thank Mediatronix for their pBlazIDE effort. For me it wasn't so much the assembler but the instruction set simulator that proved so valuable. What a great visual way to trouble shoot code: just step through things line by line. If nothing else it was an outstanding learning tool for a beginner to see how PB works.

I understand that there are other ways to trouble shoot. Without an ISS I'm learning to use the JTAG loader and piecemeal my code on real hardware and test it. JTAG loader is invaluable for the ability to download code changes in such a quick fashion. This way of trouble shooting is growing on me, along with using ModelSim when I really put myself in the weeds.

But in my mind an ISS is a great learning device and the Mediatronix ISS will be sorely missed. So thank again for all the grief that you must have put up with as people complained about this free, masterful tool. I can only imagine all the  unsung hours that went into creating the IDE and the ingratitude that your inbox must have endured.

BTW, Christoph Fauck is beginning to develop an ISS (and assembler) for PB6. It's in the beginning stages and still has a number of commands to implement. Hopefully his work will gain some traction for people like me who are visual learners and like to create a testbench with an ISS rather than ModelSim.

 Now that I have two banks of general purpose registers to trample on in my subroutines, misuse NAMEREG with, and swap between inappropriately, an ISS may come in handy.

So, thanks Mediatronix for all you did. And Go, Christoph, Go!

Brad

[technicolor]

This ISS can be found on

http://www.openpicide.org/content/about/

Rgds,

Technicolor

[jesse]

I'd like to contribute that I've had my students use the OpenPicIde for the last few quarters, and it appears to work nicely.

It has some syntax issues, along the lines of the Mediatronix PBlazeIDE.

Benefits include:

1. covers all Picoblaze versions in current use

2. provides choices on the types of outputs produced (Verilog, VHDL, etc.)

3. Includes a flexible instruction level simulator for code development

4. Fairly easy to use

5. Standard Windows type access (I've run on XP and Win7)

6. FREE (thanks to Christophe Fauk!)