Open source FPGA toolchain builds CPU

Ever wondered if you could run a J1a CPU on an FPGA using only open source hardware? This is possible using these three open source tools:

• an Open Source Forth kernel, SwapForth
• running on an Open Source CPU, the J1a
• built using an entirely Open Source FPGA toolchain, IceStorm

When you develop software, you need some kind of toolchain. For example, to develop for an ARM processor, you need a suitable C compiler, a linker, a library, and a programmer. FPGAs use a similar set of tools. However, instead of converting source code to machine language, these tools map the intent of your source code into configuration of FPGA elements and the connections between them.

Via hackaday.com