xref: /linux/Documentation/driver-api/fpga/intro.rst (revision 3eb66e91a25497065c5322b1268cbc3953642227)
1Introduction
2============
3
4The FPGA subsystem supports reprogramming FPGAs dynamically under
5Linux.  Some of the core intentions of the FPGA subsystems are:
6
7* The FPGA subsystem is vendor agnostic.
8
9* The FPGA subsystem separates upper layers (userspace interfaces and
10  enumeration) from lower layers that know how to program a specific
11  FPGA.
12
13* Code should not be shared between upper and lower layers.  This
14  should go without saying.  If that seems necessary, there's probably
15  framework functionality that can be added that will benefit
16  other users.  Write the linux-fpga mailing list and maintainers and
17  seek out a solution that expands the framework for broad reuse.
18
19* Generally, when adding code, think of the future.  Plan for reuse.
20
21The framework in the kernel is divided into:
22
23FPGA Manager
24------------
25
26If you are adding a new FPGA or a new method of programming an FPGA,
27this is the subsystem for you.  Low level FPGA manager drivers contain
28the knowledge of how to program a specific device.  This subsystem
29includes the framework in fpga-mgr.c and the low level drivers that
30are registered with it.
31
32FPGA Bridge
33-----------
34
35FPGA Bridges prevent spurious signals from going out of an FPGA or a
36region of an FPGA during programming.  They are disabled before
37programming begins and re-enabled afterwards.  An FPGA bridge may be
38actual hard hardware that gates a bus to a CPU or a soft ("freeze")
39bridge in FPGA fabric that surrounds a partial reconfiguration region
40of an FPGA.  This subsystem includes fpga-bridge.c and the low level
41drivers that are registered with it.
42
43FPGA Region
44-----------
45
46If you are adding a new interface to the FPGA framework, add it on top
47of an FPGA region.
48
49The FPGA Region framework (fpga-region.c) associates managers and
50bridges as reconfigurable regions.  A region may refer to the whole
51FPGA in full reconfiguration or to a partial reconfiguration region.
52
53The Device Tree FPGA Region support (of-fpga-region.c) handles
54reprogramming FPGAs when device tree overlays are applied.
55