Xilinx tools debut expected to aid OEMs

Electronic News, April 8, 1996

San Jose, Calif.--Xilinx's recent announcement of the Xilinx Foundation series--an integrated set of software solutions for its complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs) and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)--was greeted affirmatively by industry observers while competitors noted that the FPGA battleground has already begun to shift into the framework of industry standard design languages.

The tools feature Windows-based software access to industry standard hardware description languages (HDLs), synthesis, schematic entry, gate level simulation and the Xilinx XACTstep implementation tools. Foundation tools available now are Windows 3.1 PC platforms with Windows 95 and Windows NT support expected later this year.

"Today's designers need easy-to-use, technology-dependent software solutions to support the rapid innovation of new PLD families without having to learn new design methodologies," said Kenn Perry, Xilinx' director of software marketing.

"Xilinx' business strategy with its new series of programmable logic design tools is an industry breakthrough," according to Rita Glover, president of EDA Today. "The openness of the Xilinx Foundation series breaks down the barriers that have previously held customers captive to particular silicon architectures."

Meanwhile, competitor Quicklogic was quick to congratulate Xilinx on the move but to note that the battle for FPGA sockets has been shifting to software for some time now. "Xilinx's move to join us on Windows and participate in industry standards will greatly benefit users who have felt trapped in their expensive proprietary tool kits," said Ed Smith, Quicklogic's director of marketing.

"The battleground for FPGA sockets is rapidly shifting into the framework of industry standard design languages where tools and silicon together must quickly generate high-performance implementation is as little silicon as possible," Mr. Smith added.

The Foundation series entry level product is the $495 XABEL-CPLD which is designed to support the XC7300 and XC9500 families and includes simulation, ABEL-HDL design support and Xilinx CPLD implementation tools. At the upper end, Xilinx offers Foundation Standard VHDL for $5,995, a comprehensive kit that includes--among other things--VHDL synthesis, schematic, simulation, floorplanner, Xilinx implementation tools and support for up to 20,000 gates.