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The MACH64 programmable logic starter kit takes you from mystery to mastery in the black art of Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs). Learn to turn Software into Hardware with this incredible technology! The MACH64 kit comes complete with everything you need to learn, experiment, design and program with CPLDs. The included 250+ page manual starts off with the technology of CPLDs and then eases you into the ABEL Language used to program CPLDs.
In the Maker Shed: MCH64 programmable logic starter kit
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Sep 4, 2009 09:00 AM
Electronics, Maker Shed Store |
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Why not verilog or VHDL. They are the industry standard languages for programmable logic and will allow you to use other vendors CPLDs and FPGAs more easily (Xilinx and Altera both offer free development environments for most of their devices).
What advantage does ABEL have?
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I have experience with these CPLDs from times when there was Vantis, not Lattice. Back then, the kit was more crude, less things on PCB. Here I see at least two additional bags.
Having no knowledge in VHDL (but some in C and assembler), and no decent ABEL textbooks, I was able to code in ABEL in a few days. Indeed, later I heard that ABEL is more assembler-like. Consider a statement "myreg.D = !myreg.Q;" which makes a TFF from a DFF :)
After a few years I tried to learn VHDL (without decent textbooks again, only a Xilinx kit) and got impatient even at basics. Perhaps an industry professional won't be able to avoid VHDL; but for fellow makers who usually want simple things done quickly I surely recommend ABEL. (I have no problem with sticking to Lattice products and still use them occasionally.)
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