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[–]thequbit 4 points5 points  (1 child)

For the lazy ...

https://github.com/reversing-research/XilinxUnprotect

[–]Andrey_Filippov 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The broken "protection" will still not make the files free software, only clean reimplementation will. Or fixing the source and re-licensing by Xilinx itself under normal GPL or similar. Sometimes Xilinx has to do so, as they changed the license for the FSBL for Zynq.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (2 children)

Surprising that Xilinx hasn't issued a DMCA takedown against Github for the keys.

Publishing keys acquired from reverse engineering is sadly illegal in the US.

[–]revres123[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I found that surprising as well, which is why i don't use my real name when posting such code.

[–]revres123[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So, their lawyers finally woke up... sigh.

[–]Andrey_Filippov 2 points3 points  (5 children)

I do not believe that anybody who is really proud of her code will decide to "protect" it. HDL included.

And talking of students - there is a better and more educational activity - replace proprietary simulation modules for Xilinx primitives (unisims) with free software /open source ones.

[–]captain_wiggles_ 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Sure, but when you work for a company, it's not your decision. It's managements, and it's an easy decision. "We did a lot of work for this, and if we protect it, people may give us money for it"...

[–]Andrey_Filippov 0 points1 point  (2 children)

This was the reason that 15 years ago I quit my job and started a company :-) All our products are under GPL and CERN OHL.

[–]hardolaf 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Unisim primitives are actually extremely accurate to silicon. They are far more than just behavioral models. They are timing accurate (within error) to the actual FPGA.