From Fedora Project Wiki

m (Moved to approve spins as per the two, late, +1s on the mailing list)
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{{Admon/tip | Important Links |
[http://chitlesh.fedorapeople.org/FEL Fedora Electronic Lab Website]
[https://fedorahosted.org/fedora-electronic-lab/report/3 File a ticket]
[https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-electronic-lab-list Join the mailing list]}}
= Spin Name =
= Spin Name =


Line 5: Line 13:
== Summary ==
== Summary ==


Fedora Electronic Lab is Fedora's high-end hardware design and simulation platform. This platform provides different hardware design flows based on the semiconductor industry's current trend. FEL maps in '''three  methodologies''' {'''design, simulation and verification'''}  with opensource EDA software.
[http://chitlesh.fedorapeople.org/FEL/ Fedora Electronic Lab] is Fedora's high-end hardware design and simulation platform. This platform provides different hardware design flows based on the semiconductor industry's current trend. FEL maps in '''three  methodologies''' {'''design, simulation and verification'''}  with opensource EDA software.
 
This page is a feature request to Spin committee and FESCo with respect to the work done behind the Fedora Electronic Lab.
 
FEL's website : http://chitlesh.fedorapeople.org/FEL/


== Definitions ==
{{admon/note|Wiki Page Purpose|This page is a feature request to Spin committee and FESCo with respect to the work done behind the Fedora Electronic Lab.}}


Below are terms used in this page which has other meanings in a normal opensource software community. These definitions are to prevent any misunderstandings from any side.
== Previous Releases ==


* EDA Software : a design or simulation tool that can be compiled into a RPM package
* [{{fullurl:Electronic_Lab|oldid=186839}} Fedora 13]
* Package : Mechanical body that envelops a chip
* Design tools : software that helps to design Analog/digital/Mixed Signal based hardware
* Simulation tools : software that helps to simulate hardware designs
* Verification methodologies : solutions to verify the hardware designs, even if the design consists of state machines and memory.


== Owner ==
== Owner ==
Line 28: Line 28:
== Current status ==
== Current status ==
* Targeted release: [[Releases/{{FedoraVersion||next}} | {{FedoraVersion|long|next}} ]]  
* Targeted release: [[Releases/{{FedoraVersion||next}} | {{FedoraVersion|long|next}} ]]  
* Last updated: 2 March 2009
* Last updated: 06 October 2009
* Percentage of completion: 90%
* The precise percentage of completion is listed on this [https://fedorahosted.org/fedora-electronic-lab/milestone/Fedora%2012%20%27Constantine%27 here.]
* The precise percentage of completion is listed on this [http://chitlesh.fedorapeople.org/FEL/devel/FEL_devel_timeline.html gantt diagram]
* [http://chitlesh.fedorapeople.org/papers/FEL12ReleaseNotes.pdf Release Notes] (PDF).
* [http://chitlesh.fedorapeople.org/papers/fel-flyer-f12.pdf Flyer] (PDF).


== Detailed Description ==
== Detailed Description ==
Line 38: Line 39:
* opensource hardware community
* opensource hardware community


After 3 consecutive and successive releases, FEL/Fedora is regarded as the Leader in this field by both communities due to its 3-years experience and quality EDA solutions.
After 4 consecutive and successive releases, FEL/Fedora is regarded as the Leader in this field by both communities due to its 4-years experience and quality EDA solutions.


Below entails the highlights of the major development items to put the quality barrier higher than the previous releases:
Below entails the highlights of the major development items to put the quality barrier higher than the previous releases:
* Perl modules to extend vhdl and verilog support. These perl modules together with rawhide's gtkwave improves chip testing support.
* Perl modules to extend vhdl and verilog support. These perl modules together with rawhide's gtkwave improves chip testing support.
* Introduction of Verilog-AMS modeling into ngspice
* Introduction of Verilog-AMS modeling into ngspice.
* Improved VHDL debugging support with gcov.
* Improved VHDL debugging support with gcov.
* Improved support for re-usable HDL packages as IP core
* Improved support for re-usable HDL packages as IP core.
* Improved PLI support on both iverilog and ghdl
* Improved PLI support on both iverilog and ghdl
* Introduction of C-based methodologies for HDL testbenches and models.
* Introduction of C-based methodologies for HDL testbenches and models.
* Improved co-simulation based hardware design.
* Improved co-simulation based hardware design.
* Introduction of design tools for DSP design flow
* Improved of design tools for DSP design flow.
* Introduction of PLA tools for the digital design flow.
* Introduction of a Peer Review Web-based solutions for small businesses.
* Introduction of simulators for 8081 and 8085 microcontrollers.
* Default IDE for Digital/Embedded design : Eclipse.
* Provided development tools for Openmoko development.
 
Users who are using the standard fedora live media can even with [[dnf|DNF]]
 
#dnf group install 'Electronic Lab'


Users who are using the standard fedora live media and even
or with [[yum|YUM]]


  yum groupinstall 'Electronic Lab'
  #yum groupinstall 'Electronic Lab'


to deploy this high-end hardware design, simulation and verification platform.
to deploy this high-end hardware design, simulation, and verification platform.


== Benefit to Fedora ==
== Benefit to Fedora ==
Ensuring, Fedora is the Leader and Expert in opensource EDA software deployment.


Fedora benefits from FEL in various ways as FEL extends Fedora's commitments to the hardware design community.
Fedora benefits from FEL in various ways as FEL extends Fedora's commitments to the hardware design community.


The Fedora Project during the last 3 Fedora releases has established its roots deep into the opensource EDA community as a robust and successful opensource EDA provider. With this fourth FEL release, Fedora Electronic Lab userbase is now
The Fedora Project during the last 4 Fedora releases has established its roots deep into the opensource EDA community as a robust and successful opensource EDA provider. With this fifth FEL release, Fedora Electronic Lab userbase is now
* Students/researchers
* Students/researchers
* Lecturers
* Lecturers
Line 70: Line 82:
* ...(but not software geeks)
* ...(but not software geeks)


FEL brings something unique that is missing in the opensource software community : a community that helps to foster EDA software development and support opensource EDA community.
FEL brings something unique that is missing in the opensource software community: a community that helps to foster EDA software development and support opensource EDA community.


Thereby, FEL is not a --package-only-EDA-tools-- community, but has a clear goal to strengthen the opensource EDA community, in terms of marketing, design methodologies, design flows,..
Thereby, FEL is not a --package-only-EDA-tools-- community, but has a clear goal to strengthen the opensource EDA community, in terms of marketing, design methodologies, design flows,..
Fedora is the Leader and Expert in opensource EDA software deployment.
During the F11 development cycle, Fedora was exposed to the EDA world through:
* [http://www.mail-archive.com/fedora-marketing-list@redhat.com/msg08551.html YOU Magazine - 2 consecutive years] - They claimed to sell more than 20000 copies of each issue of their magazine each month.
* [http://clunixchit.blogspot.com/2009/01/xuropa-offers-fel-free-exhibition-space.html Xuropa] : Fedora is aligned on Xuropa just after the Number 2 TOP EDA company on this online TradeShow.
* LinuxEvents : LinuxTagBerlin2008, FOSS.IN 2009, FOSDEM2009
* [http://www.skmurphy.com/blog/2008/05/28/bloggers-covering-electronic-design-automation/ DVCON organizers] are now aware of Fedora's commitment to the EDA world
Some compliments we got from fosdem:
* MaxSpevak : FEL is a very good example of innovative side of Fedora.
* JeroenMeuven : FEL is the successful fedora spin since the spin idea came up during F7.
* GregDeKonigberg: FEL came up to the opensource environment with a clear mind about a problem to fix, what the opensource community is missing and no one has stepped in before.
* Glexos : FEL's leadership in its field(electronics) is an example
for other opensource sigs to follow.


== Scope ==
== Scope ==
Line 93: Line 90:
FEL is the leader and expert in the opensource EDA community. Unlike other similar projects, FEL is an EDA solutions provider rather than a random EDA software provider. FEL's solutions include design tools that fit into hardware design methodologies and meet interoperability between other design tools in the design flows.
FEL is the leader and expert in the opensource EDA community. Unlike other similar projects, FEL is an EDA solutions provider rather than a random EDA software provider. FEL's solutions include design tools that fit into hardware design methodologies and meet interoperability between other design tools in the design flows.


Those solutions also extend to support opensource EDA software development and existing opensource EDA software community.
Those solutions also extend to support opensource EDA software development, existing opensource hardware communities and existing opensource EDA software communities.


FEL will focus on increasing its current quality barrier to match current semiconductor industry's needs.
FEL will focus on increasing its current quality barrier to match current semiconductor industry's needs.
Line 104: Line 101:
A good "how to test" should answer these four questions:
A good "how to test" should answer these four questions:


0. What special hardware / data / etc. is needed (if any)?
0. What special hardware/data / etc. is needed (if any)?
1. How do I prepare my system to test this feature? What packages
1. How do I prepare my system to test this feature? What packages
need to be installed, config files edited, etc.?
need to be installed, config files edited, etc.?
Line 117: Line 114:
2. No additional system setup is required to satisfy a basic design flow
2. No additional system setup is required to satisfy a basic design flow


3. Each EDA software includes its examples and can be used to tell each tool individually. Perl modules bundled for hardware development have undergone self-testing during their builds, i.e %make check
3. Each EDA software includes its examples and can be used to tell each tool individually. Perl modules bundled for hardware development have undergone self-testing during their builds, i.e %make check  


  dnf group install 'Electronic Lab'


Additional testing
Or:


yum groupinstall 'Electronic Lab'
  yum groupinstall 'Electronic Lab'


git clone ssh://git.fedorahosted.org/git/fedora-electronic-lab.git
  [http://alt.fedoraproject.org/pub/alt/nightly-composes/electronic-lab/ Nightly FEL LiveDVD] builds. ([http://alt.fedoraproject.org/pub/alt/nightly-composes/electronic-lab/logs logs])


cd wiki-examples
  git clone ssh://git.fedorahosted.org/git/fedora-electronic-lab.git


Here there is an example of a Nor2. A basic design flow is entailed in its Makefile. This design flow comprises the use of several independent design and simulation tools.
Here there is an example of a Nor2. A basic design flow is entailed in its Makefile. This design flow comprises the use of several independent design and simulation tools.


== User Experience ==
== User Experience ==
Fedora Electronic Lab team publishes FEL-12's [http://chitlesh.fedorapeople.org/papers/FEL12ReleaseNotes.pdf Release Notes] (PDF). This document entails all the development carried out on this new release. Users are advised to read these Release Notes.


Without FEL, users are on their own to deduce a proper design flow with the proper tools for each stage of the design flow. Only a couple of users using opensource design tools succeed in completing a hardware project with opensource tools. But this requires at least 2 years to build a proper EDA platform from opensource software in order to design hardware for the real life.
Without FEL, users are on their own to deduce a proper design flow with the proper tools for each stage of the design flow. Only a couple of users using opensource design tools succeed in completing a hardware project with opensource tools. But this requires at least 2 years to build a proper EDA platform from opensource software in order to design hardware for the real life.
Line 136: Line 136:
FEL comes to solve this issue. The latest methodology included on FEL platform is the means for verifications and debugging for digital based designs.
FEL comes to solve this issue. The latest methodology included on FEL platform is the means for verifications and debugging for digital based designs.


The perl modules included for F11 brings a new methodology under the Fedora umbrella. This methodology is Verification together with possibilities for co-simulation based design and simulation. Fedora remains the sole linux distribution distributing FEL methodologies for hardware design, simulation and verification. Thereby users tend to have the one-stop linux distribution for advanced electronic design.
Fedora remains the sole Linux distribution distributing FEL methodologies for hardware design, simulation, and verification. Thereby users tend to have the one-stop Linux distribution for advanced electronic design.


Updates of the existing RPM packages have improved design experience in terms of development time and debugging. While FEL understands Moore's Law is important for its userbase, these improvements will allow users to design a more efficient and successful designs with opensource software.
Updates of the existing RPM packages have improved design experience in terms of development time and debugging. While FEL understands Moore's Law is important for its userbase, these improvements will allow users to design a more efficient and successful design with opensource software.


These enhancements brought to the Fedora umbrella increase chances that Fedora users can complete their high-end hardware design even if scaled to 90nm and wrap up their project with final tapeout.
These enhancements brought to the Fedora umbrella increase chances that Fedora users can complete their high-end hardware design even if scaled to 90nm and wrap up their project with final tapeout.
Line 144: Line 144:
== Kickstart File ==
== Kickstart File ==


 
http://git.fedorahosted.org/git/?p=spin-kickstarts.git;a=blob_plain;f=fedora-livedvd-electronic-lab.ks;hb=F-16
http://git.fedorahosted.org/git/?p=spin-kickstarts.git;a=blob_plain;f=fedora-livedvd-electronic-lab.ks;hb=HEAD


== ISO Name / FS Label ==
== ISO Name / FS Label ==
Line 155: Line 154:
<!-- What other packages (RPMs) depend on this package?  Are there changes outside the developers' control on which completion of this feature depends?  In other words, completion of another feature owned by someone else and might cause you to not be able to finish on time or that you would need to coordinate?  Other upstream projects like the kernel (if this is not a kernel feature)? -->
<!-- What other packages (RPMs) depend on this package?  Are there changes outside the developers' control on which completion of this feature depends?  In other words, completion of another feature owned by someone else and might cause you to not be able to finish on time or that you would need to coordinate?  Other upstream projects like the kernel (if this is not a kernel feature)? -->


none
Desktop Spin


== Contingency Plan ==
== Contingency Plan ==


There is no need for backup plan as the work done behind FEL-11 is only to improve hardware design experience and expand FEL targeted userbase to Test & Verification Engineers.
There is no need for backup plan as the work done behind FEL [[Releases/{{FedoraVersion||next}} | {{FedoraVersion|long|next}} ]] is only to improve the existing FEL backbone.


== Documentation ==
== Documentation ==
<!-- Is there upstream documentation on this feature, or notes you have written yourself?  Link to that material here so other interested developers can get involved. -->
<!-- Is there upstream documentation on this feature, or notes you have written yourself?  Link to that material here so other interested developers can get involved. -->


Each design tool includes its own documentation. Design methodologies are listed on FEL's website:
Each design tool includes its own documentation. Design methodologies are listed on [http://chitlesh.fedorapeople.org/FEL/ FEL's website].


http://chitlesh.fedorapeople.org/FEL/
{{admon/tip|Detailed Documentation|$ rpm -ql PACKAGE}}




== History ==
* [https://fedoraproject.org/w/index.php?title=ElectronicLab_Spin&oldid=110582 Fedora Electronic Lab 11 Features]
* [http://www.mail-archive.com/fedora-marketing-list@redhat.com/msg08551.html YOU Magazine - 2 consecutive years] - They claimed to sell more than 20000 copies of each issue of their magazine each month.
* [http://clunixchit.blogspot.com/2009/01/xuropa-offers-fel-free-exhibition-space.html Xuropa] : Fedora is aligned on Xuropa just after the Number 2 TOP EDA company on this online TradeShow.
* LinuxEvents : LinuxTagBerlin2008, FOSS.IN 2009, FOSDEM2009
* [http://www.skmurphy.com/blog/2008/05/28/bloggers-covering-electronic-design-automation/ DVCON organizers] are now aware of Fedora's commitment to the EDA world


== Comments and Discussion ==
== Comments and Discussion ==


Some pictures can be found [http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=50884070903&view=all here].
Some pictures can be found [http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=50884070903&view=all here].
* MaxSpevak : FEL is a very good example of innovative side of Fedora.
* JeroenMeuven : FEL is the successful fedora spin since the spin idea came up during F7.
* GregDeKonigberg: FEL came up to the opensource environment with a clear mind about a problem to fix, what the opensource community is missing and no one has stepped in before.
* Glexos : FEL's leadership in its field(electronics) is an example for other opensource sigs to follow.


* See [[Talk:FedoraElectronicLab]]  <!-- This adds a link to the "discussion" tab associated with your page.  This provides the ability to have ongoing comments or conversation without bogging down the main feature page -->
* See [[Talk:FedoraElectronicLab]]  <!-- This adds a link to the "discussion" tab associated with your page.  This provides the ability to have ongoing comments or conversation without bogging down the main feature page -->




[[Category:Fedora_Electronic_Lab]]
[[Category:Spins_Fedora_16]]
[[Category:Spins_Fedora_15]]
[[Category:Spins_Fedora_14]]
[[Category:Spins_Fedora_13]]
[[Category:Spins_Fedora_12]]
[[Category:Spins_Fedora_11]]
[[Category:Spins_Fedora_11]]



Revision as of 23:16, 7 August 2018


Spin Name

Fedora Electronic Lab

Summary

Fedora Electronic Lab is Fedora's high-end hardware design and simulation platform. This platform provides different hardware design flows based on the semiconductor industry's current trend. FEL maps in three methodologies {design, simulation and verification} with opensource EDA software.

Note.png
Wiki Page Purpose
This page is a feature request to Spin committee and FESCo with respect to the work done behind the Fedora Electronic Lab.

Previous Releases

Owner

Current status

Detailed Description

FEL bridges 2 different opensource communities :

  • opensource software community
  • opensource hardware community

After 4 consecutive and successive releases, FEL/Fedora is regarded as the Leader in this field by both communities due to its 4-years experience and quality EDA solutions.

Below entails the highlights of the major development items to put the quality barrier higher than the previous releases:

  • Perl modules to extend vhdl and verilog support. These perl modules together with rawhide's gtkwave improves chip testing support.
  • Introduction of Verilog-AMS modeling into ngspice.
  • Improved VHDL debugging support with gcov.
  • Improved support for re-usable HDL packages as IP core.
  • Improved PLI support on both iverilog and ghdl
  • Introduction of C-based methodologies for HDL testbenches and models.
  • Improved co-simulation based hardware design.
  • Improved of design tools for DSP design flow.
  • Introduction of PLA tools for the digital design flow.
  • Introduction of a Peer Review Web-based solutions for small businesses.
  • Introduction of simulators for 8081 and 8085 microcontrollers.
  • Default IDE for Digital/Embedded design : Eclipse.
  • Provided development tools for Openmoko development.

Users who are using the standard fedora live media can even with DNF

#dnf group install 'Electronic Lab'

or with YUM

#yum groupinstall 'Electronic Lab'

to deploy this high-end hardware design, simulation, and verification platform.

Benefit to Fedora

Ensuring, Fedora is the Leader and Expert in opensource EDA software deployment.

Fedora benefits from FEL in various ways as FEL extends Fedora's commitments to the hardware design community.

The Fedora Project during the last 4 Fedora releases has established its roots deep into the opensource EDA community as a robust and successful opensource EDA provider. With this fifth FEL release, Fedora Electronic Lab userbase is now

  • Students/researchers
  • Lecturers
  • Analog/Digital/Mixed Signal hardware designers (even Test engineers)
  • System Electronic Engineers
  • Project Coordinators
  • New opensource EDA developers
  • Field application engineers (who have never heard of FEL)
  • ...(but not software geeks)

FEL brings something unique that is missing in the opensource software community: a community that helps to foster EDA software development and support opensource EDA community.

Thereby, FEL is not a --package-only-EDA-tools-- community, but has a clear goal to strengthen the opensource EDA community, in terms of marketing, design methodologies, design flows,..

Scope

FEL is the leader and expert in the opensource EDA community. Unlike other similar projects, FEL is an EDA solutions provider rather than a random EDA software provider. FEL's solutions include design tools that fit into hardware design methodologies and meet interoperability between other design tools in the design flows.

Those solutions also extend to support opensource EDA software development, existing opensource hardware communities and existing opensource EDA software communities.

FEL will focus on increasing its current quality barrier to match current semiconductor industry's needs.

How To Test

1. FEL is and should be computer hardware independent.

2. No additional system setup is required to satisfy a basic design flow

3. Each EDA software includes its examples and can be used to tell each tool individually. Perl modules bundled for hardware development have undergone self-testing during their builds, i.e %make check

  dnf group install 'Electronic Lab'

Or:

  yum groupinstall 'Electronic Lab'
  Nightly FEL LiveDVD builds. (logs)
  git clone ssh://git.fedorahosted.org/git/fedora-electronic-lab.git

Here there is an example of a Nor2. A basic design flow is entailed in its Makefile. This design flow comprises the use of several independent design and simulation tools.

User Experience

Fedora Electronic Lab team publishes FEL-12's Release Notes (PDF). This document entails all the development carried out on this new release. Users are advised to read these Release Notes.

Without FEL, users are on their own to deduce a proper design flow with the proper tools for each stage of the design flow. Only a couple of users using opensource design tools succeed in completing a hardware project with opensource tools. But this requires at least 2 years to build a proper EDA platform from opensource software in order to design hardware for the real life.

FEL comes to solve this issue. The latest methodology included on FEL platform is the means for verifications and debugging for digital based designs.

Fedora remains the sole Linux distribution distributing FEL methodologies for hardware design, simulation, and verification. Thereby users tend to have the one-stop Linux distribution for advanced electronic design.

Updates of the existing RPM packages have improved design experience in terms of development time and debugging. While FEL understands Moore's Law is important for its userbase, these improvements will allow users to design a more efficient and successful design with opensource software.

These enhancements brought to the Fedora umbrella increase chances that Fedora users can complete their high-end hardware design even if scaled to 90nm and wrap up their project with final tapeout.

Kickstart File

http://git.fedorahosted.org/git/?p=spin-kickstarts.git;a=blob_plain;f=fedora-livedvd-electronic-lab.ks;hb=F-16

ISO Name / FS Label

* Fedora-%{ver}-%{arch}-Live-FEL
* LiveDVD

Dependencies

Desktop Spin

Contingency Plan

There is no need for backup plan as the work done behind FEL Fedora 40 is only to improve the existing FEL backbone.

Documentation

Each design tool includes its own documentation. Design methodologies are listed on FEL's website.

Idea.png
Detailed Documentation
$ rpm -ql PACKAGE


History

Comments and Discussion

Some pictures can be found here.

  • MaxSpevak : FEL is a very good example of innovative side of Fedora.
  • JeroenMeuven : FEL is the successful fedora spin since the spin idea came up during F7.
  • GregDeKonigberg: FEL came up to the opensource environment with a clear mind about a problem to fix, what the opensource community is missing and no one has stepped in before.
  • Glexos : FEL's leadership in its field(electronics) is an example for other opensource sigs to follow.