STEPFPGA MXO2Core miniature FPGA development board is based on Lattice MXO2-4000 FPGA, and designed for education with an easy-to-use Web IDE, instead of the more traditional tools that can be frustrating to use, and detailed tutorials.
The board also comes with a 2-digit segment display, some LEDs, push buttons, and a 4-way DIP switch, as well as two rows of twenty pins for I/O expansion, and a USB Type-C port used for power, programming, or mass storage.
STEPFPGA MXO2Core specifications:
- FPGA – Lattice Semi MachXO2 X02-4000 FPGA with 4320 LUTs
- Display – 2-digit segment display
- USB – 1x USB Type-C port for power, programming (UART), and mass storage
- Expansion – 2x 20-pin headers with up to 36x GPIOs, SPI, I2C, 3.3V, VBUS, GND; breadboard-compatible
- Misc – 2x RGB LEDs, 8x red LEDs, 4-way DIP switch, 4x push buttons
- Power Supply – 5V via a USB port
- Dimensions – Small four-layer PCB
The FPGA board does not require any extra drivers, is supported in Windows, Linux, and macOS, and can be programmed in a Web-based IDE from your web browser or Lattice Diamond IDE. Eight samples and tutorials with Web IDE will be available including a 3-8 decoder, an 18-key electronic piano key, elevator control, smart crossroad, and digital lock projects.
The STEPFPGA board, sometimes written STEP FPGA, is offered on Kickstarter with over $30,000 raised for far and about 2 to 3 days left. A $46 US pledge should get you the board, but beginners may want to pledge $86 or $93 to get a copy of a tutorial book (PDF / physical copy) with the board, or even get one of the kits that come with the hardware necessary to complete projects such as the electronic piano. Shipping adds $10 CAD to Canada, and about $11.7 US to the rest of the world. Backers should expect their rewards to get shipped later this month around two weeks after the campaign is over. It’s not the first such board from the company (EIM Technology), as they’ve been selling earlier revisions on Tindie.
Via Geeky Gadgets
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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It’s interesting that such a premium is put on the tutorial… $59 for the board, and $109 for the board + digital copy of tutorial.. it must be pretty good!
Ah yes, allow us to take control over all of your USB ports in exchange for 4000 LUTs and less support than UP5K.
Flashing via web ui is good for n00bs, but i don’t think n00bs are gonna use a fpga.
I think the fpga users are more intrested in proper free documentation and a normal console flash tool that just works whitout the need to do weird stuff with a browser.
WEB IDE – BIG HUGE NO!
Here’s a solution for you that’s simpler than using all caps in the comments: don’t buy one. That won’t stop anyone else from buying one and using the web IDE, but that shouldn’t affect you in any way. You can still use all caps when writing to yourself that web IDEs are a big huge no but no need to post to a forum.