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chip design with Linux




Ok, I don't know who on this list is hardware-minded but here is what I
have come up with after looking for a complete toolchain for chip design
under Linux / DOS, all in the public domain, AND a place that will make
the chips for less than $1k. This is not a dream:

1. For chip design, a suitable layout package and / or VHDL compiler and
simulator must be used. The following items apply:

On sunsite, there are tools for VHDL design, compilation and verification. 
They are in the PD. OCEAN is the most complete but it uses sea-of-gates
chips these are rather hard to get by according to recent postings in
alt.comp.embedded. VHDL is the way ahead. Most likely candidates are ver,
vgi, vbs, magic and brusey. They are all in /pub/Linux/apps/circuits. 

VHDL can also be translated into programming files for Lattice PEEL etc.
devices. Unfortunately I know of no Lattice tools that run on DOS or
Linux (nor from other chip vendors). This may change soon.

There is also a public domain program called LASI that runs on DOS. It is
downloadable. It is a layout generator, and there is a tutorial book that
goes with it.

2. There is at least one place, available over the net, that can make
chips in small quantities, for anyone. The place is:

http://www.mosis.com

and is related to the U. of Southern Ca.

The price reverts to $100-250 per chip, with quantities starting at 4
pieces.

ayone here interested in a discussion on toolchain compatibility /
installation + running experience on Linux / Caldera DOS ?

Peter