System console TCL API

[Altera_Forum]

Is it possible to interface to system console via TCL API from external apps (e.g. GUI based C++ app)? Are their any tutorials?

[Altera_Forum]

The easiest way to integrate with SystemConsole is to use Tcl's TCP/IP interface, eg., see the code with this tutorial 

 http://www.alterawiki.com/wiki/using_the_usb-blaster_as_an_sopc/qsys_avalon-mm_master_tutorial  There are both Tcl and C client application examples.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Is it possible to interface to system console via TCL API from external apps (e.g. GUI based C++ app)? Are their any tutorials?  --- Quote End ---    No, it is not possible to use Tcl API to create your own applications. If I understand it's structure correctly, System Console is actually a Java application with embedded Tcl interpreter.  If you wish to use functionality that System Console provides, you are basically stuck using traditional IPC methods between your System Console TCL script and your external application, like the TCP/IP method Dave mentioned.  Depending on your GUI application requirements (maybe you are starting from scratch and don't have to do that much), you can use the dashboard API's. I have used it to produce diagnostic interfaces for lab technicians to use, for example. http://www.altera.com/education/demonstrations/qsys/system-console/system-console-demo.html

[Altera_Forum]

What's the difference between system console and virtual JTAG? Why not use virtual jtag to debug your design?

[Altera_Forum]

Virtual JTAG is a component 

 http://www.altera.com/literature/ug/ug_virtualjtag.pdf  System Console is software that allows you to communicate via JTAG, eg., you can use System Console to communicate with SLD JTAG components.  Cheers, Dave

[Altera_Forum]

Here is another example of setting up a TCP/IP TCL Server that lets you talk to the Virtual JTAG running in the quartus_stp.exe: 

http://idle-logic.com/2012/04/15/talking-to-the-de0-nano-using-the-virtual-jtag-interface/

[Altera_Forum]

--- Quote Start ---  Virtual JTAG is a component  http://www.altera.com/literature/ug/ug_virtualjtag.pdf  System Console is software that allows you to communicate via JTAG, eg., you can use System Console to communicate with SLD JTAG components.  Cheers, Dave  --- Quote End ---    As czeh's post, i can use tcl-tk communicate with virtual jtag and use it to debug my fpga design. Also i can use VJ to test my fpga design,eg.. i can send data to fpga, and can read data from fpga for offline analyzing. As attahced shows, i have designed one debug station used for my current designs debugging and testing.

[Altera_Forum]

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think tcl-tk is available for the Web edition of Quartus... I could be mistaken. (TCL yes, but not tk last time I checked). 

 Anyhow, I personally prefer to use something like VB or Python (w/ wxWidgets) for a little more modern looking UI and a more robust/powerful IDE.

[Altera_Forum]

Following up: I just tried using TCL/TK in Quartus Web edition and it seems to work fine. I just used the sample code found if you run this command in the TCL Console: 

init_tk -long_help