I'm after some guidance on how to begin playing with CPLDs and FPGAs (one day).
Background: I have a 6809 (I know) project, which is progressing well and I'm learning a lot about loads of different things. My little computer is now fairly useable with a DUART, VIA, bitbanged SPI, IDE interface, sound etc, and at a point where it would be great to use it as a vehicle to learn about an area which I've wanted to learn for the best part of two decades, that is programmable logic.
But what I'm struggling with is how to get started. I have narrowed things down a little bi; the hardware in question should be something I can breadboard first, ideally have a 5V supply and generally work with the rest of the 80s era parts in the computer. Xilinix seems like the best manuf. to go with, if only because the dev tools are free to use.
My first use of PL will (hopefully) be used to replace the glue logic in my current computer, and (hopefully) in the future to implement some peripherals, like an I2C interface, or perhaps something to drive some kind of display.
Here is a list of parts I'm pretty sure I need:
XC9572PC44-10C (several)
PLCC->DIP adapter for the breadboard
PLCC socket for when I eventually use the parts in a PCB
Xilinx USB Cable Platform
PLCC extraction tool
I know the 9572 is EOL, but you can still get them cheaply and this is all about learning some cool tech, not making a sellable product.
It's the programmer I'm most concerend about. Most people seem to use LPT port programmers, but I'll be using my Mac Mini running Windows inside a VM. Can these programmers be used for the CPLD?
I have the ISE Webpack software installed (5GB download!) and am currently trying to decide what language to start with. Verilog seems to look the closest to C (a language I know very well) so I will probably go with that, but am open to suggestions?
Obviously I will start small. A CPLD counter driven by a 555 will be my first little project.
Any questions, suggestions that I'm mad etc, .... please go ahead.