How to design the simplest FPGA dev. board?

[qmriso]

Hello,

I would like to design a FPGA development board.
The simplest one with single Spartan FPGA on it, and the configuration booted trought USB or JTAG.

I would like to test some uC software cores like Nios or uBlaze on it.

I am not sure however which opion to select USB or JTAG.
If USB most probably the external supporting logic will be needed.

Does someone know existing free design of something like this?

 

[Iouri]

why don't you just buy one for $150?

 

[yasser_shoukry]

I do not want to be pessimistic but i think it is a hard and not cost effective job

 

[bmwcoupe]

first of all i think you should buy dvp kit, its waste of time to design by yourself

what do you mean by JTAG OR USB ?
jtag work thru USB or Parallel port
i mean you will use JTAG anyway , the question should be USB or parallel
in this case i think if you want to design your own dvp board use parallel
it would be easier...
anyway in alera site search for BYTEBLASTER and you will see
a schematics of JTAG CABLE , so you'll be able just to duplicate it.....

 

[AndaMan]

I use this board the schematic (on last page) is fairly simple
and programing cable is just direct cable from parallel port.
works with xilinx ISE.

**broken link removed**

they also have manual in english, please seek.