Project Description

This is the story of getting started with Efinix FPGA devices and development environment running under Arch linux. This is the process I used at the end of 2022 so please view this only as a resource that may help one getting set up in your particular development environment. In the tech world, hardware, software, web addresses and operating systems tend to change rapidly. I like to document my progress on new adventures as it is quite likely I may have to repeat the process on new hardware or assist someone setting up a development system.

Efinix provides a free development environment for its FPGA line that has versions for windows or linux. To get access to the development software, you must buy a qualified development board containing one of the Efinix FPGAs. The least expensive board I found is called the Fireant ($30USD,50$Cdn). This is a T8 fpga, USB programmer, 2 user switches, 4 user LEDs and a bunch of 3.3V I/O on 40 Pin board suitable for plugging into a prototype board. It requires, no external components to get started and can be powered via the USB programming cable. If you need a grander introduction board, Efinix has quite a variety of Trion development boards with Trion T8, T20 and T120 fpgas. See https://www.efinixinc.com/products-devkits.html

Step by Step

If you have a valid login and account setup for the Efinix site and you have the serial number for your development kit, downloading the IDE, installing, compiling your first demo program and programing the FPGA should take much less than an hour. However, it may take a few days of waiting for emails to collect the required information. The process I followed is documented below.


• Order an approved development board such as a Fireant or Xyloni or something bigger. You will need to provide a micro USB data cable to connect the fireant to the PC.
• Get the serial number for your kit. When buying Fireants from Digikey or Mouser, they probably come without a serial number. You need to send an email to fireant@jungle-elec.com with a proof of purchase (I used a scanned copy of my packing list that arrived with my fireant from Mouser) requesting a serial number for your kit.
• Register your development kit at: https://www.efinixinc.com/support/index.php (click on register a kit button). This can end up being a little convoluted. I created an account with my contact information, received "click here to confirm your account email" which didnt work and had to send an email to support@efinixinc.com. Erica kindly confimed my account and provided directions on changing my password. Now you can continue on to register your kit. It was recommended by the S100Computers group to use S100Computers.com as the company name as my primary use for the Efinix development environment was to support Jeffs T35 fpga card project listed below.
• Now you have a registered account, you can download the current release of the Efinix IDE environment. https://www.efinixinc.com/support/efinity.php I run Arch linux on my normal desktop PC. I downloaded the Efinity IDE for Ubuntu. I also downloaded the Efinity patch file for Ubuntu from the same page. Both packages contain a readme file with simple instructions on how to install the software. I installed the software in my home directory (unpacking the bzip file in my home directory created an efinity folder in my home directory). The IDE is QT based and seems pretty self contained with all its needed libraries and executables. Python is used internally for scripting in the IDE and a local copy of python 3.8 is included in the package. Thankyou Efinix for nicely packaging the IDE and keeping it self contained in a user folder (1.7Gb).
• cd ~ #change to home directory
• tar -xjvf efinity-.tar.bz2 #unpack IDE
• cd efinity #change to IDE main directory
• sudo ./bin/install_usb_driver.sh # install udev rules for USB programmer
• ./bin/install_desktop.sh #install an icon on your desktop for easy access to IDE
• If you downloaded a patch file, follow the readme directions to apply the updates.
• Using links at the bottom of this page, you can download demo projects as well as find a quick start guide which will guide you through compiling a project and programming the FPGA. Now it is up to you to invent new uses for this very cool board.

After the IDE Installation Notes

• In Efinity Software GUI, start Interface Designer. (top menubar icon with paintbrush)
• Click Check Design (top menubar with checkmark on a page)
• Click Generate Efinity Constraint Files (top menubar with chain links on a page)
• Click Export Design Issues (only needed if above steps found errors)

Resources