Tanni, could I publish this on the MSX Assembly Page (map.tni.nl/)?

~Grauw

Tanni, we talked extensively about VHDL and your thoughts @ Bussum. Because I strongly agree with you, I really would like to make VHDL a hot item in the MSX scene. It is indeed important we start to understand the basic concept of VHDL programming. Your first taste of VHDL is therefore a great initiative! I'd really like to have more on-topic reactions in this thread to see whether more MSX sceners understand the importance of understanding VHDL in order to create OCM updates in the future.

Please? Pretty please?

Yes, it's definately very interesting. It's probably a good idea to get some basics about VHDL already.

But on the other hand I can also understand that people might wait and see a bit, if and when the OCM will be shipped. After all, it has already been a very long running project.

On topic: I heard about a C to VHDL compiler (or something) at work... What about this?

Quote:

Edwin, I posted this thread because OCM will be based on VHDL and so we need to get aquainted to this language to modify and improve the OCM. Even if VHDL is similar to Pascal or Ada in syntax, it is NOT a programming language!

I actually know that already. Last year with the first round of OCM ordering I read through a lot of tutorials and information. After that I even used the VHDL source of the msx-music chip to compare it to the emulation implementation. A rather interesting exercise. I still need to do some testing with simulation though. But I doubt I will have much time for that this year.

I doubt that too

Well, here's a model of a JK flipflop - a basic 1 bit memory cell

-- VHDL-Model of a JK flipflop
-----------------------------------------------------

-- Interface

ENTITY jk_flipflop IS
	GENERIC (delay : time := 10 ns); -- Impulse delay
	PORT(clk, j, k : IN bit;
             q, q_not : OUT bit);
END ENTITY ;


-- Model definition
ARCHITECTURE behaviour OF jk_flipflop IS
BEGIN
   PROCESS(clk)
   BEGIN
      --  only on 
      IF clk = 1 THEN
         -- Set Flipflop 
         IF j = 1 AND q = 0 THEN
            q <= 1 AFTER delay;
            q_not <= 0 AFTER delay;
         -- Reset Flipflop
         ELSIF k = 1 AND q = 1 THEN
            q <= 0 AFTER delay;
            q_not <= 1 AFTER delay;
         END IF ;
      END IF ;
   END PROCESS ;
END ARCHITECTURE ;

Nope, I didn't write that code myself, just grabbed it from here

Quote:

Quote: Edwin, I posted this thread because OCM will be based on VHDL and so we need to get aquainted to this language to modify and improve the OCM. Even if VHDL is similar to Pascal or Ada in syntax, it is NOT a programming language! I actually know that already. Last year with the first round of OCM ordering I read through a lot of tutorials and information. After that I even used the VHDL source of the msx-music chip to compare it to the emulation implementation. A rather interesting exercise. I still need to do some testing with simulation though. But I doubt I will have much time for that this year.

And I guessed that you know that already. I took your post to point out what's the issue, because the reactions made were somewhat off topic.

Quote:

Yes, it's definately very interesting. It's probably a good idea to get some basics about VHDL already. But on the other hand I can also understand that people might wait and see a bit, if and when the OCM will be shipped. After all, it has already been a very long running project. On topic: I heard about a C to VHDL compiler (or something) at work... What about this?

There will be more and more embedded systems in the future, or systems based on reconfigurable hardware. So, VHDL is an interesting topic, even if there will be no OCM.

Rising interest in VHDL is also rising interest in the OCM and vice versa. And VHDL will be useful even if there will be no OCM, as I already pointed out. But I can understand, if people aren't interested in VHDL, because they only want to code in software. That's their decision. In the future, the hard- and software domains will more and more intermix!

Wait and see is just loosing time. If the OCM will be there -- and I wish that it will be produced -- than you can use the skills you already aquired during pleasant anticipation before the upcoming of that product. You then don't start from the beginning.

There are other languages for hardware design based on C, at least on of them needs to be compiled to VHDL if you want to get your descriptions work. But you shouldn't bother about that, VHDL is best! (Allow me to be biased on that issue!)

Well, AuroraMSX, your post comes a little early if we want to be didactical!

Quote:

Tanni, we talked extensively about VHDL and your thoughts @ Bussum. Because I strongly agree with you, I really would like to make VHDL a hot item in the MSX scene. It is indeed important we start to understand the basic concept of VHDL programming. Your first taste of VHDL is therefore a great initiative! I'd really like to have more on-topic reactions in this thread to see whether more MSX sceners understand the importance of understanding VHDL in order to create OCM updates in the future. Please? Pretty please?

It's not only about OCM updates, it's about other devices and about a possible MSX3, too. MSX3 needs to be based on reconfigurable hardware, I think, but this rises a lot of questions we cannot answer yet. First, we need to take the next step, the OCM. Here we will gain experience on keeping and expanding the standard, if we like.

Quote:

Tanni, could I publish this on the MSX Assembly Page (map.tni.nl/)? ~Grauw

See my e-mail.

Quote:

Well, AuroraMSX, your post comes a little early if we want to be didactical!

I just cater for the quick studies
As for tutorials, being didactical and stuff, I guess anyone can type 'VHDL tutorial' in google

Quote:

Quote: Tanni, we talked extensively about VHDL and your thoughts @ Bussum. Because I strongly agree with you, I really would like to make VHDL a hot item in the MSX scene. It is indeed important we start to understand the basic concept of VHDL programming. Your first taste of VHDL is therefore a great initiative! I'd really like to have more on-topic reactions in this thread to see whether more MSX sceners understand the importance of understanding VHDL in order to create OCM updates in the future. Please? Pretty please? It's not only about OCM updates, it's about other devices and about a possible MSX3, too. MSX3 needs to be based on reconfigurable hardware, I think, but this rises a lot of questions we cannot answer yet. First, we need to take the next step, the OCM. Here we will gain experience on keeping and expanding the standard, if we like.

At Bussum, you told me you are a VHDL tutor yourself. I think it would be fantastic if we can create some 'VHDL corner' @ MRC of which you are the initiator, moderator and tutor, Tanni

great idea! i'm very interested in learning some vdhl! maybe it's a good idea to create a new for category dedicated to the One Chip MSX and everything related ('hardware extensions', vhdl stuff, ...)

So, where's the next VHDL code snippet?
As soon as those japanese have figured out how to use conductive plastic instead of lead for soldering, that OCM will come this way ^_^