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FPGA vendors provide software that support their devices.
The design software does 4 main things:
FPGA vendors provide a free software that supports low to medium density FPGA devices, and a full (non-free) version of the same software that supports the big FPGA devices.
The free software is usually fine to start with because
Here's a summary of the features/limitations of the software:
| Design-entry | VHDL, Verilog, ABEL, Schematic, EDIF (all versions) | VHDL, Verilog, AHDL, Schematic, EDIF (all versions) |
|---|---|---|
| Core generator | Yes (all versions) (CORE Generator) | Yes (all versions) (MegaWizard Plug-Ins) |
| Functional & timing simulation | No, testbench simulation only | Yes (all versions) |
| Testbench simulation | Use ModelSim Xilinx Edition III | Use ModelSim-Altera edition |
| Synthesis/P&R | Free version limited to small & medium devices | Free version limited to small & medium devices |
| Programming | Yes | Yes |
| FPGA floorplanner/editor | Yes (FPGA editor), available in all versions (starting from ISE 8.1i) | FPGA floorplanner/Chip Editor included in all versions |
| Internal debug access | ChipScope PRO (a separate product - not free) | SignalTap II (included in Quartus II/Web edition) |
| Older versions | Available from the ISE Classics page | Available from the Quartus II Software Archive page |
| OS support | XP/Vista/Linux | XP/Vista + Linux for the full version |
| Price | Free version: $0 Full version: $2495 for a 12 month license | Free version: $0 Full version: $2000 for a 12 month license |
| Software matrix | Check here | Check here |
These are big software, look here to start: