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Why is Vivado 2026.1 dropping Linux support for free tier?

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Re: Why is Vivado 2026.1 dropping Linux support for free tier?

#82
This sucks. I was working on a video course on building CPUs on an FPGA that uses Vivado (because I am somewhat familiar with the ecosystem and have dev boards with Artix FPGAs).

I am still contemplating my options. I can still use Vivado 2025, I guess, but I am not sure that is the right direction.

What are realistic alternatives for Vivado? (Taking into account the availability of supported affordable entry-level dev boards?)

Re: Why is Vivado 2026.1 dropping Linux support for free tier?

#83

The official replies are addressing questions that nobody has asked. The main issue is why Linux support is being removed from the Basic tier while Windows is still allowed. To grow the ecosystem, AMD needs more people working on their hardware. Restricting Linux will only alienates students, hobbyists, and devs who want to adopt AMD tech. - From long term AMD user

But amd doesn't need you, all they care about is ai. https://youtu.be/uJcf2UGCH1w

Re: Why is Vivado 2026.1 dropping Linux support for free tier?

#84
post #68
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The official replies started off by addressing ... the "unacceptable abusive behavior towards AMD". The most important thing here is obviously to ask people not to use such hurtful words as "disgraceful" towards poor little AMD... Answering the actual question seems not a high priority

Yes, this struck me as rather odd and unprofessional too. Do you really want to depend on a company where customer facing representatives can’t handle people being upset? Especially when to company has just announced changes that limit what users can do with their products. The older I get the less I want to deal with companies that act like primadonnas and the technologies they make. This is also why I don’t do phon…

> Yes, this struck me as rather odd and unprofessional too. Do you really want to depend on a company where customer facing representatives can’t handle people being upset

Typical phone CSR boilover from covid days. Most places I call these days have a message saying that they will hang up on you if you act pissy.

Re: Why is Vivado 2026.1 dropping Linux support for free tier?

#85
post #24

We've had good experiences with Lattice parts. Their software tools are free for all of their basic chips. They only charge for licensing when you use the higher end SKUs with SerDes. Example, you can use and develop on an ECP5 or Certus using their free license, but then you need a paid license to work on ECP5-5G or CertusPro chips. They're not perfect, but they're better to work with than Xilinx. Also, their datash…

I came in here to recommend Lattice as well, at least for small glue-logic type applications. I've used their various MaxhXO lines extensively and really enjoy working with them.

Re: Why is Vivado 2026.1 dropping Linux support for free tier?

#86
post #33

The official replies are addressing questions that nobody has asked. The main issue is why Linux support is being removed from the Basic tier while Windows is still allowed. To grow the ecosystem, AMD needs more people working on their hardware. Restricting Linux will only alienates students, hobbyists, and devs who want to adopt AMD tech. - From long term AMD user

The official replies started off by addressing ... the "unacceptable abusive behavior towards AMD". The most important thing here is obviously to ask people not to use such hurtful words as "disgraceful" towards poor little AMD... Answering the actual question seems not a high priority

I don't know anything about this situation, but basic logic says if you want someone to give you free stuff, be nice to them.

It wouldn't surprise me if AMD is scaling back their free offerings due to the impact on support.

Re: Why is Vivado 2026.1 dropping Linux support for free tier?

#87

The official replies are addressing questions that nobody has asked. The main issue is why Linux support is being removed from the Basic tier while Windows is still allowed. To grow the ecosystem, AMD needs more people working on their hardware. Restricting Linux will only alienates students, hobbyists, and devs who want to adopt AMD tech. - From long term AMD user

One would've thought they had learned from their supposed driver superiority over Nvidia due to embracing Linux users with OSS drivers

Re: Why is Vivado 2026.1 dropping Linux support for free tier?

#88
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people, including the management of most big corporations, claim that verbal insults, which do no actual physical harm to anyone, are "unacceptable abusive behavior", while the actions that do physical harm to others, e.g. by tricking or forcing them to pay an extra part of their hard-earned money for things that should not have been paid, because they had already been paid in another form, instead of using that…

I agree with your point (that AMD does a lot more harm than what they are indignant about) but not the way you go there. If emotional abusive behavior is not "physical harm" because it's just emotions, then financial abusive behavior is not "physical harm" either because it's just numbers. When you consider what incredible harm being emotionally unwell can lead to, I don't think it deserves to be dismissed. AMD is cl…

The replies here are horrifying. Yes corporations are not people. But they are made up of people. I'd imagine most here work in them yourselves. Often less well paid support staff who have to read, and try to respond, to such terrible behavior. As one of those support people myself I can assure you it takes a toll.

Re: Why is Vivado 2026.1 dropping Linux support for free tier?

#89

The official replies are addressing questions that nobody has asked. The main issue is why Linux support is being removed from the Basic tier while Windows is still allowed. To grow the ecosystem, AMD needs more people working on their hardware. Restricting Linux will only alienates students, hobbyists, and devs who want to adopt AMD tech. - From long term AMD user

Those students and hobbyists often end up in jobs where they are involved in multi million dollar purchasing decisions.

AMD’s MBA types extinguish that early mindshare at their own peril.

Re: Why is Vivado 2026.1 dropping Linux support for free tier?

#90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some people, including the management of most big corporations, claim that verbal insults, which do no actual physical harm to anyone, are "unacceptable abusive behavior", while the actions that do physical harm to others, e.g. by tricking or forcing them to pay an extra part of their hard-earned money for things that should not have been paid, because they had already been paid in another form, instead of using that…

> claim that verbal insults, which do no actual physical harm to anyone, are "unacceptable abusive behavior" Which is true in a vacuum. Insulting _people_ is abusive behavior and shouldn't be accepted. The issue here is the posts aren't insulting people, they're insulting a company, and a company can't be mentally abused.

There are still individuals, who make up the company, who have to read and try to formulate responses to said abusive behavior. It's usually the lower paid support staff not the engineers or C suite who have those duties. As one of those people I can confirm it absolutely takes a toll.
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