Is it possible to develop ARM FPGA design start with Keil MDK Lite? FPGA design start includes 90-days trial of Keil MDK Essential. Is it really needed if the code doesn't exceed 32KB? Are there any other limitations to using Keil MDK Lite in this regard?
The limitations are here:
http://www.keil.com/demo/limits.asp
The MDK is purely for the microcontroller executable code; it knows nothing about FPGA - so you would somehow have to manage the whole FPGA implementation with some other tools ...
I have apparently some basic misunderstanding. I supposed any Keil MDK is for microcontroller executable code, i.e. for ARM core programming, while all FPGA staff needs to be done with corresponding FPGA suit (e.g. Vivado for Xilinx). Isn't it so? What then Keil MDK Essential knows about FPGA?
The issue is the Essential $1500 yearly license is just not affordable for me for hobbyist purposes.
chainastole said:I supposed any Keil MDK is for microcontroller executable code
Yes.
chainastole said:while all FPGA stuff needs to be done with corresponding FPGA suit (e.g. Vivado for Xilinx). Isn't it so?
chainastole said:What then Keil MDK Essential knows about FPGA?
What then Keil MDK Essential knows about FPGA?
Nothing.
chainastole said:yearly license is just not affordable for me for hobbyist purposes
There's always GCC ...
For building/debugging the Arm code, and if your code can work within MDK Lite restrictions, then it should be fine. The FPGA design will be done with FPGA tools as you mention.
MDK editions table is shown here.
I've just discovered it seems to be possible to develop program/develop ARM with Xilinx SDK (which is free), given it is ported to FPGA board like Arty-7, ZYBO, etc. Do you know it is really so? If, yes, then on my FPGA based applications I don't need other ARM development tools.
You mean this https://www.xilinx.com/products/design-tools/embedded-software/sdk.html ?
You'd have to ask Xilinx for specific details of their particular offering.
That page doesn't mention what toolchain(s) is/are included - other than that the IDE is "Eclipse-based" - so not uVision. It could be GCC. That page doesn't mention Cortex-M or Keil at all
But it certainly is common that manufacturers have "special deals" for use with their products (and their products only).
eg, ST have a free Keil MDK for use with their Cortex-M0 chips, and Silicon Labs have a free full C51 for use with their 8051-based chips.
Just out of curiosity, What are you going to make? I could be in the need for another hobbyist project, and I am looking for ideas.
Sorry, have no ideas. I am going to learn a complimenting skill (FPGA and embedded) being already an experienced ASIC designer. My goal is to add a skill I would be able to propose to a would-be employer with idea. In general I understand the pursuit for ideas worth implementing is the biggest challenge here in HW slice of hobbyists spectrum. On the contrary to SW, where a hobbyist could theoretically make something essential (e.g. still there are gaps in Android apps field), here in HW it is all about playground sandbox. All the worth things could only be done on commercial scale.
If you want to learn microcontroller programming, then it'll probably be easier to do that on a standard microcontroller rather than while also trying to master FPGAs at the same time - with all the added complications that entails!
If you want to do that with Keil, start here: http://www2.keil.com/mdk5/learn
But we seem to have digressed from your original topic, "Keil MDK Lite limitations".
So I think it's time to verify the answer - or answers - to that question, and start a new thread if you have new Keil questions.