[Coco] I took the plunge on a DE-1... now what?

[John Kent]

On 29/02/2012 11:43 PM, Mark McDougall wrote:
> On 29/02/2012 10:45 PM, T. Franklin wrote:
>
>> Hey all. I don't post much but I need a little guidance. I just took the
>> plunge on a DE-1 and need some help on setting up the FPGA CoCo3 on it.
>
> Unfortunately, AFAIK there's no 'from out-of-the-box to Coco3' 
> instructions available online atm. I vaguely recall someone talking 
> about writing some up, but I'm not aware of that document/site if it 
> exists.
>
> There are two main areas of confusion with the DE1:
>
> (i) How to program the flash contents with Coco ROM(s) and
> (ii) Programming the configuration device vs programming the FPGA.
>
> The former requires programming the FPGA with the (supplied) TerASIC 
> DE1 Software first, and running the DE1 client software on your 
> Windows-based machine. AFAIK there is no Linux client available for 
> it. That offers a GUI that allows you to then program the flash 
> contents on the DE1 board with your chosen Coco ROM image(s).
>
> The second is a choice you, as end user, can make. If you choose to 
> program the FPGA directly (with a COCO3 .SOF file) then you will need 
> to do so again after each power-cycle of the board. If, however, you 
> choose to program the configuration device (using a .POF file) then 
> the DE1 will power up as a [COCO3] each time you turn it on. 
> Instructions on how to do either are included in the DE1 user 
> documentation.
>
> Of course none of the above is permanent and may be changed/overridden 
> at any time you choose. For instance, I choose to have my DE1 
> configuration device programmed with the TerASIC DE1 software, but 
> then again I use it for a lot more than Coco3, and regularly change 
> the flash contents.
>
> Aside from that, the Coco3FPGA documentation (from yahoo groups files 
> area) describes how to use the switches, drivewire etc for the Coco3.
>
> Note that the DE1 is not limited to the Coco3 - there's a bunch of 
> classic arcade games and microcomputer emulations for it, including 
> the Amiga 500.
>
> Have fun!
>
> Regards,
>

https://www.altera.com/download/software/quartus-ii-we

There is a Linux version.

It's 3GB

-- 
http://www.johnkent.com.au
http://members.optusnet.com.au/jekent