Automatic generation of Makefile?

[Aclassifier]

The Makefile that comes with the the blink example looks like this:

> /* Copyright message removed since it becomes headers */

> chip.bin: chip.v blink.v blink.pcf
> 	yosys -q -p "synth_ice40 -blif chip.blif" chip.v blink.v
> 	arachne-pnr -d 8k -P tq144:4k -p blink.pcf chip.blif -o chip.txt
> 	icepack chip.txt chip.bin

> .PHONY: upload
> upload:
> 	stty -F /dev/ttyACM0 raw
> 	cat chip.bin >/dev/ttyACM0

> .PHONY: clean
> clean:
> 	$(RM) -f chip.blif chip.txt chip.ex chip.bin

Will I have to make my own Makefiles or is there some kind of automatic generation of it? Ref. Automake. Would they all follow this one, as a kind of template? Is this explained anywhere?

[Folknology]

There are several levels of BlackIce developers:

1) IceStudio - easiest way in
2) APIO + Editor, simple for getting started especially for Windows.
3) Socs using Litex/Saxon etc..
4) Verilog, make, command line and editor

Trouble is for the last category there are many ways to work, the example make file in blink is the simplest example. It is based on Arachne PNR and the iceStorm tools, which have been around longest, it's a lowest common denominator. In reality you would probably want to move to using NextPnr. In addition how will you run test benches and simulation, will you use Icarus or prefer co-simulation with Verilator? These kind of differences will change how you structure you make file, here is a simple example I used recently for a 7Seg demo:

VERILOG = top.v hex27seg.v 7seg_display.v

LDFLAGS=
CFLAGS=-g -O3

chip.bin: $(VERILOG) 7seg_display.pcf
	# yosys -q -p "synth_ice40 -blif top.blif" $(VERILOG)
	# arachne-pnr -d 8k -P tq144:4k -p 7seg_display.pcf top.blif -o top.txt
	yosys -q -p "synth_ice40 -json top.json" $(VERILOG)
	nextpnr-ice40 --hx8k --package tq144:4k --pcf 7seg_display.pcf --json top.json --asc top.txt
	icepack top.txt top.bin

.PHONY: sim
sim:
	verilator -Wno-fatal --cc $(VERILOG) --trace --exe ../$(@).cpp  -Mdir $(@) -CFLAGS "$(CFLAGS)"
	make -C $(@) -f Vtop.mk

.PHONY: upload
upload:
	stty -F /dev/ttyS3 raw -echo
	cat top.bin >/dev/ttyS3

.PHONY: clean
clean:
	$(RM) -f top.blif top.json top.txt top.ex .bin
	$(RM) -rf *.o

distclean:: clean
	rm -rf *~ *.txt *.vcd *.mif *.orig

I haven't even touched on adding more advanced features in Yosys like Formal support. Automating all of this would be difficult because folks operate in many different ways..

[Aclassifier]

Thanks And 7seg: nice since I now have some!

But NextPNR failed to install on my Mac. I hope that @daveshah can have a look at it. I have heard from a friend that he would know about this.

I guess I will try out IceStudio. It's a long time since I wrestled with makefiles, back to when they had to have tabs, not spaces. Having them made for me is a dream of course, but I do admit that it hides a possibly interesting level. However, I do love dialogue boxes as well.

When it comes to test benches and simulation I reckon I'd be there as soon as I am stuck.

And formal support is very interesting. Comparing what I then would learn with Promela, SLTA and FDRn might just become a blog note.. Still I would need to learn, by doing, the basics first.

[lawrie]

But NextPNR failed to install on my Mac. I hope that @daveshah can have a look at it. I have heard from a friend that he would know about this.

I am no Mac expert, but don't you just do brew install cmake ?

[Folknology]

I guess I will try out IceStudio

I think if you program then makefiles is a better route..

[Aclassifier]

I am no Mac expert, but don't you just do brew install cmake ?

Yes! I tried it, the log is here. There are three logs there:

===1 #FILE Installing cmake ===
===2 #FILE Installing nextpnr ===
===3 #FILE CMakeOutput.log ===

I think it now stops on Could NOT find Boost. I have a /boost directory but it's under /openmodelica that I did install once (but I did not proceed on that path).

In Installing.. they suggest that I use

brew install boost --with-python

I won't just test this, but then I wouldn't blame anyone should any suggestion turn out to be wrong..

[AndyCap]

I would stay away from any automated make system, they are nightmares!

Just put your Verilog code in a folder and use wildcards in the makefile:

TTY  = /dev/cu.usbmodem00000000001A1


chip.bin: verilog/*.v chip.pcf
yosys -q -p "synth_ice40 -blif chip.blif" verilog/*.v 
arachne-pnr -m 100 -r -d 8k -P tq144:4k -p chip.pcf chip.blif -o chip.txt
icepack chip.txt chip.bin

.PHONY: upload
upload:
	stty -f $(TTY) raw
	cat chip.bin > $(TTY)

.PHONY: clean
clean:
	$(RM) -f chip.blif chip.txt chip.ex chip.bin

Just put all your verilog files in a folder called verilog and use chip.pcf.

[AndyCap]

But NextPNR failed to install on my Mac. I hope that @daveshah can have a look at it. I have heard from a friend that he would know about this.

What exactly fails here?

Edit: I just looked at the install manifest for nextpnr and it is just a single file, if you pm me I can send it to you.

[Aclassifier]

Thanks, Andrew

I'm away over the weekend and am not at my usual desk. However, I did succeed until "Could not find Boost" -> https://www.teigfam.net/oyvind/home/technology/194-my-fpga-notes/#second_trial_but_no_boost. But maybe it's just a missing "brew install Boost" for all I know. I just let it be for the moment because I became busy with the box (https://www.teigfam.net/oyvind/home/technology/195-my-icecore-notes/#status)

But if you have a new script for installing nextpnr, and it won't install it twice (or I could uninstall some way first?), and I would have no visible need for Boots, I can try it over the weekend!? Mail me on https://www.teigfam.net/oyvind/me/email.html