summaryrefslogtreecommitdiffstats
path: root/Documentation/driver-api/fpga/intro.rst
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
Diffstat (limited to 'Documentation/driver-api/fpga/intro.rst')
-rw-r--r--Documentation/driver-api/fpga/intro.rst54
1 files changed, 54 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/Documentation/driver-api/fpga/intro.rst b/Documentation/driver-api/fpga/intro.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..51cd81dbb4dc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/driver-api/fpga/intro.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+Introduction
+============
+
+The FPGA subsystem supports reprogramming FPGAs dynamically under
+Linux. Some of the core intentions of the FPGA subsystems are:
+
+* The FPGA subsystem is vendor agnostic.
+
+* The FPGA subsystem separates upper layers (userspace interfaces and
+ enumeration) from lower layers that know how to program a specific
+ FPGA.
+
+* Code should not be shared between upper and lower layers. This
+ should go without saying. If that seems necessary, there's probably
+ framework functionality that that can be added that will benefit
+ other users. Write the linux-fpga mailing list and maintainers and
+ seek out a solution that expands the framework for broad reuse.
+
+* Generally, when adding code, think of the future. Plan for re-use.
+
+The framework in the kernel is divided into:
+
+FPGA Manager
+------------
+
+If you are adding a new FPGA or a new method of programming a FPGA,
+this is the subsystem for you. Low level FPGA manager drivers contain
+the knowledge of how to program a specific device. This subsystem
+includes the framework in fpga-mgr.c and the low level drivers that
+are registered with it.
+
+FPGA Bridge
+-----------
+
+FPGA Bridges prevent spurious signals from going out of a FPGA or a
+region of a FPGA during programming. They are disabled before
+programming begins and re-enabled afterwards. An FPGA bridge may be
+actual hard hardware that gates a bus to a cpu or a soft ("freeze")
+bridge in FPGA fabric that surrounds a partial reconfiguration region
+of an FPGA. This subsystem includes fpga-bridge.c and the low level
+drivers that are registered with it.
+
+FPGA Region
+-----------
+
+If you are adding a new interface to the FPGA framework, add it on top
+of a FPGA region to allow the most reuse of your interface.
+
+The FPGA Region framework (fpga-region.c) associates managers and
+bridges as reconfigurable regions. A region may refer to the whole
+FPGA in full reconfiguration or to a partial reconfiguration region.
+
+The Device Tree FPGA Region support (of-fpga-region.c) handles
+reprogramming FPGAs when device tree overlays are applied.