quick-start

ULX3S Quick Start

Know your programmer!

Newer versions of the ULX3S, such as those shipped to Crowd Supply backers, require the latest version of fujprog.

Older versions of fujprog as well as ujprog MAY NOT WORK PROPERLY.

Connecting ULX3S

You need to connect to USB1 (US1) connector to the host computer in order to program the board. Connecting to USB2 (US2) will not work.

Getting toolchain binaries

Precompiled opensource tools for all platforms

• https://github.com/emard/ulx3s/blob/master/doc/MANUAL.md#precompiled-opensource-tools-for-all-platforms

Mac OS X toolchain via homebrew

You can get Mac OS X toolchain by running following commands:

brew tap kost/homebrew-ulx3s
brew install --HEAD project-trellis yosys nextpnr-trellis fujprog

Blink a LED

• https://github.com/ulx3s/blink

Building toolchain from source

If you want to build complete toolchain from source, there are different ways to build it.

Building Linux toolchain from source with docker

If you want to build complete toolchain yourself, you can rebuild complete toolchain using docker:

git clone https://github.com/alpin3/ulx3s/
cd ulx3s
make build
make bins

Building Barebones Linux toolchain

(coming soon)

This installs only the bare essentials (yosys/nextpnr/fujprog) to get started with FPGA programming.

For ESP32, RISC-V and other features - see the full toolchain.

Building Full Linux toolchain from source without docker

Another way is to use scripts to build complete toolchain https://github.com/ulx3s/ulx3s-toolchain

sudo apt-get install git --assume-yes
mkdir -p ~/workspace
cd ~/workspace

git clone https://github.com/ulx3s/ulx3s-toolchain.git
cd ulx3s-toolchain
chmod +x ./install_all.sh
./install_all.sh

Building Full Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) toolchain from source without docker

This buld assumes WSL is already installed. WSL2 has not yet been tested.

The only difference from regular Linux install is this one puts files on the C:\Workspace directory for safe and easy access from Windows. Be aware of the dangers of editing WSL file system from Windows.

sudo apt-get install git --assume-yes
mkdir -p /mnt/c/workspace/
cd /mnt/c/workspace/

git clone https://github.com/ulx3s/ulx3s-toolchain.git
cd ulx3s-toolchain
chmod +x ./install_all.sh
./install_all.sh

Next steps

Now, you're ready for the next steps, we suggest following:

• https://github.com/emard/ulx3s/blob/master/doc/MANUAL.md
• https://github.com/emard/ulx3s-misc
• https://github.com/ulx3s/fpga-odysseus
• https://github.com/emard/ulx3s-examples
• https://github.com/emard/ulx3s-bin
• https://github.com/kost/ulx3s-ghdl-examples/

Or explore different projects available at: https://ulx3s.github.io/

Chat and support

Discord chanel

• https://discord.gg/qwMUk6W (problems/question/general chat)

Gitter chanel

• https://gitter.im/ulx3s/Lobby (Focused on development)