XSOC User Survey 0.93
Copyright (C) 2000, Gray Research LLC.  All rights reserved.

Please help us improve the XSOC Project, by taking a few minutes to
answer as many of the following questions as you wish, and then
emailing your responses to xsoc-survey@fpgacpu.org.

Aggregated numeric answers and select written answers may be posted to
fpga-cpu@egroups.com, so please don't send anything sensitive.

If you are currently having problems, please do not use this survey to
seek assistance. Rather, see the Help! file.

Thank you for your help.

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Please rate your XSOC experiences on a scale of 0-5:

   [0] - not applicable, not yet
   [1] - no, hard, didn't work, got stuck, confusing, frustrating
   [2] -
   [3] - perhaps, OK, acceptable, could be better
   [4]
   [5] - yes, easy, successful, works great, clear, pleasant
   [ ] - ignored question
   [@] - written answer, for example, [instructor]

   Please answer yes/no questions with either a [1] or a [5].
   Please don't hesitate to expand upon your [numeric] response
   with additional written comments.


1. Download/Install

<1.1>  [ ] I downloaded the XSOC materials and read the LICENSE.
<1.2>  [ ] I read the README.TXT.
<1.3>  [ ] I read the Getting Started guide.
<1.4>  [ ] I downloaded the lcc41.exe InstallShield distribution.
<1.5>  [ ] I installed the lcc41.exe InstallSheild distribution.
<1.6>  [ ] I installed the lcc-xr16 program overlay.
<1.7>  I had some problems:
       [@]


2. Compiler/Assembler

<2.1>  [ ] I compiled the fib.c demo to fib.s with lcc-xr16.
<2.2>  [ ] I assembled the fib.s demo.
<2.3>  [ ] I simulated the fib.s demo.
<2.4>  [ ] I compiled some other C program with lcc-xr16.
<2.5>  I had some problems:
       [@]
       (and/or file a bug report form)


3. FPGA Demo

<3.1>  [ ] I compiled the graphics demo gr.c with lcc-xr16.
<3.2>  [ ] I reviewed the gr.lst listing file.
<3.3>  [ ] It was clear which .bit file to use.
<3.4>  [ ] I already had access to a suitable XS40 board.
<3.5>  [ ] I got an XS40 board, just to try XSOC.
<3.5>  [@] It is a ... board revision (e.g. XS40-010XL v1.4+)
<3.6>  [ ] I successfully ran XSTEST or GXSTEST test first.
<3.7>  [ ] (XS40 v1.3 or later) I set my XS40 clock to 12.5 MHz (divide by 8).
<3.8>  [ ] I loaded gr.hex and xsoc-*.bit and saw the LEDs pulsing dimly.
<3.9>  [ ] I loaded gr.hex and xsoc-*.bit, attached a monitor, and it worked.
<3.10> I had some problems:
       [@]


4. Rebuilding lcc-xr16 from sources

<4.1>  [ ] I installed the lcc4.1 sources.
<4.3>  [ ] I installed the lcc-xr16 sources overlay.
<4.4>  [ ] I built lcc-xr16.
<4.5>  [ ] I installed the xr16 assembler/simulator sources.
<4.6>  [ ] I built xr16.
<4.7>  [ ] I installed them in the %LCCDIR% directory.
<4.8>  I had some problems:
       [@]


5. Rebuilding the FPGA -- Schematics version

<5.1>  [ ] I already had access to Xilinx Foundation or Student Ed.
<5.2>  [ ] I got Xilinx Foundation or Student Ed., just to try XSOC.
<5.3>  [@] It is ... version ... . (e.g. XSE 1.5, Foundation 2.1i, etc.)
<5.4>  [ ] It was clear which .ucf file to copy to xsoc.ucf.
<5.5>  [ ] I started the Foundation Project Manager and loaded XSOC.
<5.6>  [ ] I opened the Schematic Editor on xsoc.sch, looked around, and quit.
<5.7>  [ ] I clicked Implementation, set options, and built xsoc.bit.
<5.8>  [@] On my PC, the build took about ... minutes.
<5.9>  [ ] I ran the graphics demo with the new xsoc.bit and it worked.
<5.10> I had some problems:
       [@]


6. Rebuilding the FPGA -- Verilog version

<6.1>  [ ] I already had access to Xilinx Foundation Express or Student Ed.
<6.2>  [ ] I got Xilinx Foundation Express or Student Ed., just to try XSOC
<6.3>  [@] It is ... version ... . (e.g. XSE 1.5, Foundation 2.1i, etc.)
<6.4>  [ ] It was clear which .ucf file to copy to xsoc.ucf.
<6.5>  [ ] I started the Foundation Project Manager and loaded XSOCV.
<6.6>  [ ] I opened the HDL Editor on xsoc.v, looked around, and quit.
<6.7>  [ ] I ran Synthesis, Implementation, and built xsocv.bit.
<6.8>  [@] On my PC, the build took about ... minutes.
<6.9>  [ ] I ran the graphics demo with the new xsocv.bit and it worked.
<6.10> I had some problems:
       [@]

7. The Next Level
<7.1>  [ ] I modified the demos.
<7.2>  [ ] I ran new C programs on the system.
<7.3>  [ ] I modified the compiler.
<7.4>  [ ] I modified the assembler.
<7.5>  [ ] I modified some aspect of the XSOC design.
<7.6>  [ ] I added a new peripheral.
<7.7>  [ ] I modified the xr16 CPU.
<7.8>  I had some problems:
       [@]


8. Documentation

<8.1>  [ ] I like short documentation in text files.
<8.2>  [ ] I like short documentation in HTML files and directories.
<8.3>  [ ] I like short documentation in Adobe Acrobat format.
<8.4>  [ ] I like short documentation in Microsoft Word format.
<8.5>  [ ] I like long documentation in text files.
<8.6>  [ ] I like long documentation in HTML files and directories.
<8.7>  [ ] I like long documentation in Adobe Acrobat format.
<8.8>  [ ] I like long documentation in Microsoft Word format.
<8.9>  [ ] The README was helpful.
<8.10> [ ] The README was clear, correct, complete.
<8.11> [ ] The Getting Started Guide was helpful.
<8.12> [ ] The Getting Started Guide was clear, correct, complete.
<8.13> [ ] The Tour of the XSOC/xr16 Schematics was helpful.
<8.14> [ ] The Tour of the XSOC/xr16 Schematics was clear, correct, complete.
<8.15> [ ] The XSOC/xr16 Specifications document was helpful.
<8.16> [ ] The XSOC/xr16 Specifications document was clear, correct, complete.
<8.17> I had some problems:
       [@]
<8.18> Documentation suggestions:
       [@]


9. Demographics

<9.1>  [@] I am a/an { instructor, student, hobbyist, researcher, ... }.
<9.2>  [ ] I know digital design.
<9.3>  [ ] I have designed with FPGAs before.
<9.4>  [ ] I designed and built the Vanden Bout text exercises first.
<9.5>  [ ] I wish I had.

Optional Written Comments:
(Pick some topics or make up your own.)

I was interested in the XSOC Project because:
After initial enthusiasm, I became disillusioned with XSOC because:
I can't/won't use XSOC because:
I am giving up / gave up on XSOC because:
The best thing about the XSOC Project is:
The worst thing about the XSOC Project is:
I got stuck when I tried ...:
The one thing missing from the project/compiler/assembler/xsoc/xr16 is:
If you ever add a test suite to XSOC, please test (and how):
Please host XSOC on ... .
Please target XSOC to ... .
Oh yeah, one more thing:
My top three wish list features are:

Thank you again for your assistance.

