Out in Front: April 11, 1996
The Foundation series of EDA tools marks Xilinx's debut in the market for Windows-based, shrink-wrapped tools. Foundation comprises combinations of EDA tools that let you design low- to mid-density Xilinx FPGA and complex-PLD (CPLD) chips. With these combinations, you can access hardware-description languages (HDLs) for design entry along with tools for schematic entry, synthesis, gate-level simulation, and chip implementation.
For entering designs as HDLs, Foundation supports both ABEL-HDL and VHDL. You can also describe your design using a schematic-entry program. The company also offers HDL Wizard, which helps you learn and write VHDL and ABEL-HDL. HDL Wizard includes an HDL editor, language templates for common functions, color-coded keywords, and a tutorial. The Foundation VHDL synthesis tool complies with the IEEE 1076 VHDL standard. Xilinx claims that the tool can compile a 2000- to 3000-gate design in 2 minutes. Design files the synthesizer creates are Synopsys-compatible and technology-independent; you can reuse them if you decide to target a different Xilinx device. The two high-end products in the Foundation series include Xilinx's XACTstep tools for floorplanning and implementation of mid-density CPLD and FPGA devices.
The Foundation series is available for PCs running Windows 3.1, and Xilinx plans support for Windows 95 and NT this year. Prices range from $495 for CPLD ABEL-HDL design input, simulation, and implementation to $5995 for everything you need to design and implement CPLDs and FPGAs having as many as 20,000 gates with ABEL-HDL or VHDL.
—by Jim Lipman
Xilinx, San Jose, CA. (408) 559-7778