EclaireXL

Not so many features on this version, but I think it is a worthwhile one!

• RPD flashing support

So what is it? Well it allows flashing a new core from the sd card. So its possible to upgrade without a USB blaster.

So now there are 3 files published:
i) .sof - new core that is applied only until powered off. Applied to FPGA itself via USB blaster and Quartus.
ii) .jic - new core and OS and settings. Applied to flash memory via USB blaster and Quartus.
iii) .rpd - new core that may be programmed from sd card. Copy it to the SD card press F11 and select 'Program RPD'. Then wait until it finished before powering off. It will print .E.W.V.E.W.V. over several lines first. This is Erase (set all bits to 1), Write (set some to 0) and Verify (double check it worked). It takes about 1 minute, though I can speed that up in future.

The nice thing about using the .rpd is that there is no need to dig out the USB blaster or open the case. Also it does not blow away all the OS, system and video settings, as the .jic currently does.