Micropython on ESP32 or ESP32-S2 for programming and flashing Lattice ECP5 FPGA via JTAG. A simple way in about 700 lines of code.
New ULX3S boards v3.1.x may have already installed micropython and esp32ecp5 with setup that helps setting WiFi password and board pinout. Connect USB to US1 port. With terminal emulator open port "/dev/ttyUSB0" (linux) or "COM1:" (windows) at standard speed 115200,8n1 Reboot ESP32, type this and follow interactive setup procedure:
import ecp5setup
Reboot ESP32. If connected to internet:
esp32ecp5 can be installed or upgraded online with upip.install("esp32ecp5"):
import upip
upip.install("esp32ecp5")
Installing to: /lib/
Warning: micropython.org SSL certificate is not validated
Installing esp32ecp5 1.0.6 from https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/a1/a5/b3689848cabb12c785bb402093180b2a20e180e158692fc19c383b30fac8/esp32ecp5-1.0.6.tar.gz
It can be also upgraded from FTP or LFTP prompt:
ftp> site "import upip; upip.install('esp32ecp5')"
lftp> site "import upip; upip.install('esp32ecp5')"
250-
Installing to: /lib/
Installing esp32ecp5 1.0.12 from https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/46/d6/15b3f9f2312b4bc16f9c2d0c042ad4e4ae8aee969c50b352d816b090a8b0/esp32ecp5-1.0.12.tar.gz
250 OK
esp32ecp5 can be installed or upgraded online with mip
import mip
mip.install("https://raw.githubusercontent.com/emard/esp32ecp5/master")
Installing https://raw.githubusercontent.com/emard/esp32ecp5/master/package.json to /lib
Copying: /lib/ecp5.py
Copying: /lib/uftpd.py
Copying: /lib/wifiman.py
Copying: /lib/sdraw.py
Copying: /lib/ecp5wp.py
Copying: /lib/ecp5setup.py
Installing zlib (latest) from https://micropython.org/pi/v2 to /lib
Copying: /lib/zlib.mpy
Done
It can be also upgraded from FTP or LFTP prompt:
ftp> site "import mip; mip.install('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/emard/esp32ecp5/master')"
lftp> site "import mip; mip.install('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/emard/esp32ecp5/master')"
250-
Installing https://raw.githubusercontent.com/emard/esp32ecp5/master/package.json to /lib
Copying: /lib/ecp5.py
Copying: /lib/uftpd.py
Copying: /lib/wifiman.py
Copying: /lib/sdraw.py
Copying: /lib/ecp5wp.py
Copying: /lib/ecp5setup.py
Installing zlib (latest) from https://micropython.org/pi/v2 to /lib
Exists: /lib/zlib.mpy
Done
250 OK
JTAG needs to switch between bitbanging and hardware SPI mode. Bitbanging is required to walk thru JTAG TAP states. SPI is required for fast upload of large bitstream.
There is undocumented behaviour of possible glitch when switching between bitbanging and hardware SPI. Glitch appears at "clk" line and maybe some other too. Although bitstream is usually tolerant about garbage data before and after, but it is best to avoid it. Experimentally is determined this pinout which doesn't make glitch at switching modes:
tms = 5 # BLUE LED - 549ohm - 3.3V
tck = 18
tcknc = 21 # 1,2,3,19,21 free pin for SPI workaround
tdi = 23
tdo = 34
led = 19
"tcknc" is not connected, but it is important to temporary replace "tck" to avoid glitch when changing modes between bitbanging and SPI.
Activity indicator can be hi-efficiency LED with near 3V drop (blue) and 0.5-1k series resistor connected between "tms" and 3.3V.
There can be also separate LED connected at "led".
Skip this step if you have ESP32 on some development board with USB-serial module. If you have ESP32 on ULX3S board, you need to download passthru bitstream for ULX3S, Choose appropriate for your board and ECP5 chip and upload passthru bitstream to flash
fujprog -j flash passthru.bit
For ESP32 classic download micropython for ESP32 "Stable" version. For WROOM modules use non-SPIRAM IDF3 versions like: ESP32_GENERIC-IDF3-20210202-v1.14.bin. or ESP32_GENERIC-20231005-v1.21.0.bin. Non-SPIRAM will work for WROVER modules too, but to use extra RAM, WROVER modules need SPIRAM versions like: ESP32_GENERIC-SPIRAM-20210202-v1.14.bin. or ESP32_GENERIC-SPIRAM-20231005-v1.21.0.bin v1.14 build is slightly old but widely tested, it can mount and unmount SD card multiple times while v1.15-v1.19 crash at next mount/umount. v1.21 is new and full of fresh features, most things work like on 1.14.
import gc
print(gc.mem_free())
wget https://micropython.org/resources/firmware/ESP32_GENERIC-IDF3-20210202-v1.14.bin
Upload micropython to ESP32
esptool.py --chip esp32 --port /dev/ttyUSB0 erase_flash
esptool.py --chip esp32 --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --baud 460800 write_flash -z 0x1000 esp32-idf3-20210202-v1.14.bin
Power off and on ESP32
Micropython v1.12 can be used with small modifications:
from machine import SPI, SoftSPI, Pin, freq
# don't import SoftSPI, it doesn't exist on v1.12
from machine import SPI, Pin, freq
swspi=SoftSPI(baudrate=spi_freq, polarity=1, phase=1, bits=8, firstbit=SPI.MSB, sck=Pin(jtagpin.tck), mosi=Pin(jtagpin.tdi), miso=Pin(jtagpin.tdo))
# SPI(-1, ...) is SoftSPI at v1.12
swspi=SPI(-1, baudrate=spi_freq, polarity=1, phase=1, bits=8, firstbit=SPI.MSB, sck=Pin(jtagpin.tck), mosi=Pin(jtagpin.tdi), miso=Pin(jtagpin.tdo))
This pinout is not yet tested does it glitch at changing modes. It is possible that there are better combinations.
This pinout provides 40KB/s flashing speed. Different pinout was tried and it provides only 20KB/s. It is not yet known is there a pinout able to write flash faster than 40KB/s.
ESP32-S2 can use any pin as input and/or output, while at ESP32 classic, pins 32 and higer are input only.
Some micropython for ESP32-S2 binary builds prevent use of some pins as input or output, not yet known why. This is experimentally found pinout that is accepted and works:
tms = 8 # BLUE LED - 549ohm - 3.3V
tck = 16
tdi = 15
tdo = 7
tcknc = 12 # free pin for SPI workaround
led = 13
ESP32-S2 modules with PSRAM and native USB support can be used. ESP32-S2 modules without PSRAM don't have enough RAM for esp32ecp5. Download micropython for ESP32-S2. This firware doesn't currently support SD card. It should be recompiled and configured to support SD and open 2nd USB-serial port which will be transparently routed to hardware TX/RX pins for communication with various FPGA projects that need serial port.
Use this pinout:
GND GND
3V3 3.3V
EN 10k 3.3V
IO0 BTN GND
IO18 10k 3.3V (pullup for floating RXD)
IO19 D-
IO20 D+
# JTAG pinout
IO15 TDI
IO16 TCK
IO7 TDO
IO8 TMS - BLUE LED - 549ohm - 3.3V
Enter USB download mode by connecting GPIO0 to GND and plugging USB. Upload micropython firmware:
esptool.py --port /dev/ttyACM0 --baud 1000000 erase_flash
esptool.py --port /dev/ttyACM0 --baud 1000000 write_flash -z 0x1000 s2_mini_micropython_v1.16-200-g1b87e1793.bin
Unplug USB, disconnect GPIO0 from GND and re-plug USB. Serial port "/dev/ttyACM0" will appear, providing micropython prompt:
screen /dev/ttyACM0
Connect over USB-serial
screen /dev/ttyUSB0 115200
Press few ENTERs, you should see prompt
>>>
>>>
Try some simple commands
>>> 1+2
3
>>> print("hey")
hey
This is how to manually setup WiFi by creating auto-executable file named "main.py" by copy-pasting text to ">>>" micropython command prompt without any upload tools. In following chapters is explained how to install upload tools and setup simple roaming profile with multiple APs and passwords.
Choose either setup as "client" or "access point":
Setup as client that logs on to a WiFi access point (home internet router), replace "accesspoint" and "password" with proper logins for your WiFi router:
f=open("main.py","w")
f.write("import network\n")
f.write("sta_if = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)\n")
f.write("sta_if.active(True)\n")
f.write('sta_if.connect("accesspoint", "password")\n')
f.write("import uftpd\n")
f.close()
import webrepl_setup
if client can't connect it will continuoulsy retry, printing failure messages. Then it will be difficult to type at usb-serial prompt. To stop it, type blindly or copy-paste:
sta_if.disconnect()
Setup as access point. Some WiFi clients may have problem connecting to ESP32.
f=open("main.py","w")
f.write("import network\n")
f.write("ap_if = network.WLAN(network.AP_IF)\n")
f.write("ap_if.active(True)\n")
f.write('ap_if.config(essid="accesspoint", password="password")\n')
f.write("import uftpd\n")
f.close()
import webrepl_setup
It will prompt to ask few questions: Enable "webrepl" by choosing "E". Type and repeat any password you like, "webrepl" client will later ask for this password. Finally agree to reboot ESP32. It will automatically create "boot.py" file:
# This file is executed on every boot (including wake-boot from deepsleep)
#import esp
#esp.osdebug(None)
import webrepl
webrepl.start()
After reboot and successful WiFi connection, it will print its IP address (192.168.4.1).
I (1554) network: CONNECTED
I (2824) event: sta ip: 192.168.4.1, mask: 255.255.255.0, gw: 192.168.4.2
You can always soft-reboot again to see IP address if you press Ctrl-D on empty python prompt:
>>> Ctrl-D
With web browser open webrepl for web browser, enter IP address of ESP32, enter password. Python prompt ">>>" should appear.
From webrepl GUI minimal upload is "ecp5.py" and "jtagpin.py" to root "/" or "/lib" directory at the ESP32. Very useful are also "uftpd.py", "sdraw.py", "wifiman.py", "ecp5wp.py", "ecp5setup.py". Your passwords can be placed in "wifiman.conf" and uploaded to root "/" of ESP32 or generated automatically with "import ecp5setup". For details about FTP and roaming profiles read below. Optionally upload some bitstream file like "blink.bit" or "blink.bit.gz" (compressed with "gzip4k.py" tool) to the root of ESP32.
If webrepl GUI disconnects immediatly, without asking the password, try to delete web browser's history, cookies, passwords and similar data, close web browser and try again.
Get micropython's "mpremote"
pipx install mpremote
Get prompt:
mpremote connect /dev/ttyUSB0
>>>
List files:
mpremote connect /dev/ttyUSB0 ls
ls :
137 boot.py
114 jtagpin.py
Upload local files to ESP32 like this:
mpremote connect /dev/ttyUSB0 mkdir lib
mpremote connect /dev/ttyUSB0 cp ecp5.py uftpd.py sdraw.py ecp5wp.py ecp5setup.py wifiman.py :/lib/
Get Adafruit "ampy"
pipx install adafruit-ampy
It will be installed here:
~/.local/bin/ampy
Upload local files to ESP32 like this (script "upload.sh"):
ampy -p /dev/ttyUSB0 mkdir /lib
ampy -p /dev/ttyUSB0 put ecp5.py /lib/ecp5.py
ampy -p /dev/ttyUSB0 put uftpd.py /lib/uftpd.py
ampy -p /dev/ttyUSB0 put sdraw.py /lib/sdraw.py
ampy -p /dev/ttyUSB0 put ecp5wp.py /lib/ecp5wp.py
ampy -p /dev/ttyUSB0 put ecp5setup.py /lib/ecp5setup.py
ampy -p /dev/ttyUSB0 put wifiman.py /lib/wifiman.py
ampy -p /dev/ttyUSB0 put wifiman.conf /wifiman.conf
ampy -p /dev/ttyUSB0 put jtagpin.py /jtagpin.py
ampy -p /dev/ttyUSB0 put sdpin.py /sdpin.py
ampy -p /dev/ttyUSB0 put main.py /main.py
List files on ESP32:
ampy -p /dev/ttyUSB0 ls
/boot.py
/main.py
...
Get webrepl for commandline, and KOST's webrepl shell automation install some python dependencies:
apt-get install python-websocket
To install commandline REPL, just copy 5 files giving them typeable names and make them executable:
cp websocket_helper.py /usr/local/bin/websocket_helper.py
cp webrepl_client.py /usr/local/bin/replsh
cp webrepl_cli.py /usr/local/bin/replcp
cp webrepl.py /usr/local/bin/webrepl.py
cp scripts/webreplcmd /usr/local/bin/replcmd
chmod +x /usr/local/bin/replsh /usr/local/bin/replcp /usr/local/bin/replcmd
Upload local files to remote ESP32 like this:
replcp -p password ecp5.py 192.168.4.1:ecp5.py
or like this:
replcmd --host=192.168.4.1 --password=1234 put ecp5.py ecp5.py
For prompt without being asked password:
replsh -p password -r 192.168.4.1
For prompt with password asked:
replsh 192.168.4.1
Soft-reboot ESP32 by entering uppercase "D" to empty prompt and press "ENTER" (instead of Ctrl-D from web GUI)
>>> D
List directory to see if the files are uploaded:
import os
os.listdir()
['boot.py', 'ecp5.py', 'main.py', 'blink.bit']
"wifiman.py" is a simple WiFi roaming manager which scans WiFi access points at power-on and uses password from file "wifiman.conf": (newline char after each line, no comments, no emtpy lines)
accesspoint1:password1
accesspoint2:password2
Then "main.py" should be only this
import wifiman
import uftpd
from ntptime import settime
try:
settime()
except:
print("NTP not available")
import ecp5
ecp5.prog("blink.bit")
99262 bytes uploaded in 142 ms (675 kB/s)
ecp5.prog("filepath_or_url") uploads to FPGA SRAM.
ecp5.flash("filepath_or_url", addr=0x000000) uploads to SPI CONFIG FLASH
upload to FLASH will start at byte address specified by "addr". which should be 4K even - lower 12 bits must be 0x000
If file ends with "*.gz", it will be decompressed on-the-fly.
linux$ ./gzip4k.py blink.bit blink.bit.gz
>>> ecp5.prog("http://192.168.4.2/blink.bit.gz")
>>> ecp5.flash("blink.bit.gz")
For bitstreams stored on the web server or SD card, ".bit" files are recommended, with bitstream compression enabled using --compress option from trellis tools. For bitstreams stored on ESP32 internal FLASH, both --compress and gzipped files ".bit.gz" are recommended for FLASH space saving.
SD card usage (SPI at gpio 12-15):
import os,machine
os.mount(machine.SDCard(slot=3),"/sd")
os.listdir("/sd")
"slot=3" must be specified to prevent using SD card MMC mode. MMC mode is about 2x faster but currently it doesn't work together with this ecp5.py programmer.
FLASH chip can set hardware write protection to a part of address space and "ecp5wp.py" is ESP32 command line tool for protection and unprotection. Supported FLASH chips are ISSI IS25LP128 and Winbond W25Q128.
FPGA ECP5 should be loaded with bitstream that allows FLASH access from JTAG (SYSCONFIG MASTER_SPI_PORT=ENABLE in .lpf, without using USRMCLK module in user design) and drives WPn=1 and HOLDn=1 to prevent crosstalk.
import ecp5wp
Tool will autodetect FLASH chip, report current protection status and suggest commands to protect or unprotect first 2MB usually used to hold bootloader bitstream.
Be careful with setting OTP registers, it is possible to permanently lock the chip.
Here I have "uftpd.py" which came from original ESP32 FTP server with my small modifications to support "ecp5.py" programmer. Install FTP server by uploading "uftpd.py" file to the root of ESP32 filesystem: and start it with:
import uftpd
FTP server started on 192.168.4.1:21
Get ftp client "ftp" or "lftp". I tried them both and they work, other clients I haven't tried...
apt-get install ftp lftp
Connect with ftp client to ESP32, type ENTER at (empty) password
ftp 192.168.4.1
Connected to 192.168.5.72.
220 Hello, this is the ULX3S.
230 Logged in.
Remote system type is UNIX.
Using binary mode to transfer files.
ftp>
Try to list files, it should work like this:
ftp> ls
200 OK
150 Directory listing:
-rw-r--r-- 1 owner group 137 Jan 1 00:03 boot.py
-rw-r--r-- 1 owner group 128 Jan 1 00:05 main.py
-rw-r--r-- 1 owner group 14 Jan 1 00:05 webrepl_cfg.py
-rw-r--r-- 1 owner group 19482 Jan 1 00:09 uftpd.py
-rw-r--r-- 1 owner group 22777 Jan 1 00:10 ecp5.py
-rw-r--r-- 1 owner group 5505 Jan 1 00:13 passthru21111043.bit.gz
226 Done.
If you don't see listing similar to this, something is incompatible, try to toggle "passive" FTP mode. If FTP client is behind the firewall it may work with passive mode on, close/open connection or try another FTP client.
ftp> passive
Passive mode on.
ftp> close
ftp> open 192.168.4.1
Besides normal FTP commands like "ls", "cd", "mkdir", "rmdir", "put", "get", "del", it also accepts "site" command to read file from ESP32 local filesystem (FLASH or SD card) and program FPGA:
ftp> site http://192.168.4.2/blink.bit
... will program remote file to FPGA using
... ecp5.prog("/http:/192.168.4.2/blink.bit")
ftp> site filename.bit
... will program local file to FPGA using
... ecp5.prog("filename.bit")
ftp> site /sd/blink.bit
... If the path starts with "/sd/" then SD card will be unmounted
... before starting bitstream
ftp> site passthru()
... program file "passthru%08X.bit.gz" % idcode
... ecp5.passthru()
SD card with FAT filesystem can be mounted or unmounted to "/sd" directory:
ftp> site mount()
ftp> ls sd
ftp> site umount()
ftp> ls sd
"site" can exec() any micropython command. If command needs quotes, use double quotes outside and single quotes inside:
lftp> site "print('abc')"
Actual syntax may vary between ftp clients.
ftp> site import ecp5; ecp5.passthru()
lftp> site "import ecp5; ecp5.passthru()"
250-
ecp5.prog("passthru41113043.bit.gz")
282624 bytes uploaded in 613 ms (461 kB/s)
250 OK
lftp> site "ecp5.flash('passthru41113043.bit.gz',0x200000)"
250-
0x200000 4K wwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
0x210000 4K wwwwwwwww
102400 bytes uploaded in 5890 ms (17 kB/s)
4K blocks: 25 total, 25 erased, 25 written.
Theoretically "site" should work well if there is enough RAM. During upload of bitstream FPGA lines may have unpredictable state. If a glitch occurs at ESP32 "EN" and other pins, ESP32 may reset or freeze (stop responding) until next power off/on cycle.
It is possible to directly put a binary file (not gzipped) from "ftp>" prompt into FPGA, FLASH or SD card (as raw image) using special destination file name "fpga", "flash@" or "sd@".
ftp> put blink.bit fpga
ftp> put blink.bit flash@0
ftp> put blink.bit flash@0x200000
ftp> put freedos.img sd@0
ftp> put freedos.img sd@0x200000
ftp> put bios.img sd@-8192
NOTE: FLASH and SD card accept byte offset after "@" character. Offset must be rounded to 4096 bytes for FLASH and to 512 bytes for SD. Negative offset can be used for writing relative to the end of SD card. Special destination file names "fpga", "flash@", "sd@" are used for direct programming and they don't relate to actual files on ESP32 filesystem.
if using "lftp", syntax is different, use option "-o" like this:
lftp 192.168.4.1:/> put blink.bit -o fpga
lftp 192.168.4.1:/> put blink.bit -o flash@0
To automate upload from linux shell, enable ftp auto-login in "~/.netrc":
cat ~/.netrc
default login anonymous password user@site
A simple shell command can upload bitstream with FTP and program ECP5:
cat /usr/local/bin/ftpecp5prog
#!/bin/sh
ftp ${1} <<EOF
put ${2} fpga
EOF
use it as:
ftpecp5prog 192.168.4.1 blink.bit
If FTP server is running and you try to program from "webrepl" and it fails with a memory allocation error:
ecp5.flash("blink.bit.gz")
MemoryError: memory allocation failed, allocating 32768 bytes
Yes it happens to me all the time :). "esp32ecp5" constantly runs near out of memory. Either disable FTP server by removing "import uftpd.py" from "main.py" file and rebooting, or try workaround from ftp> commandline to issue any "site" command just to let FTP server import ecp5 and then memory situation will be better for ecp5.flash() from "webrepl"
... linux commandline
ftp> site blink.bit.gz
... webrepl
import ecp5
ecp5.flash("blink.bit.gz")
This is developer's procedure how to upload. Developer should register at Python Package Index, increase version number in pypi/setup.py, build package and upload, type pypi username/password when asked:
cd pypi
make clean
make check
make upload
ESP32 can run small VT100 terminal editor Upload files "pye_mp.py" and "help.txt".
from pye_mp import pye
pye("help.txt")
connected with fujprog -t
QUIT: ctrl-q
SAVE: ctrl-s
connected with screen /dev/ttyUSB0 115200
QUIT: ctrl-a q
SAVE: ctrl-a s
Instead of ESP32-WROOM, use ESP32-WROVER :)
ecp5, ftp, gzip decompression, buffers and other things in use allocate RAM. Sometimes there won't be enough free RAM for everything on ESP32-WROOM. Best is to obtain ESP32-WROVER which has 2MB additional PSRAM. ESP32-WROOM workaround is to avoid using gzip'd files or don't import uftpd.
[x] on-the-fly gzip decompression
[x] read flash content
[x] from read, decide if block has to be erased
[x] fix HTTP GET for binary file
[x] write disk image to SD card
[x] reuse currently separated code for file/web bit/bit.gz
[x] integrate with ftp server like https://github.com/robert-hh/FTP-Server-for-ESP8266-ESP32-and-PYBD
[ ] integrate with webrepl and file browser like https://github.com/hyperglitch/webrepl
[x] ecp5.prog() should return True if OK, False if FAIL
[x] optimize send_bit, n-1 bits in loop and last bit outside of loop
[x] while read flash until same content as file, with retry
[x] more progress for flashing
[x] ftp put fpga/flash reports Done/Fail
[x] mount/umount SD card from ftp prompt (just cd to /sd)?
[x] specify flash address ftp> put file.bit flash@0x200000
[x] site mount, exit, site umount Fail
[ ] "site" command should execute some python script
[ ] upip installation https://packaging.python.org/tutorials/packaging-projects/
https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/reference/packages.html