Tools that work with FTDI chips

List of known hardware products using User EEPROM

  • all Digilent JTAG adapters

List of software that can be used with empty EEPROM

  • Lattice Diamond Programmer
  • Gowin Programmer
  • ToolZ
  • OpenOCD
  • most open source software?

List of software that that use custom VID/PID

  • Microsemi (now Microchip) FlashPro 5

Lattice Programmer

Lattice has made a smart decision and allows the use of FTDI chips with blank EEPROM, JTAG is supported on any channel, not limited to channel A. Supported modes are JTAG, I2C and SPI. If duplicating the schematic look at Lattice evaluation boards for detailed info.

Arrow USB Programmer

This is a special DLL that makes the FT2232 chip to work with Intel FPGA’s. Available both for Windows and Linux hosts. Only JTAG mode supported on fixed channel A. Default VID/PID is used, programmer is detected by the Product string, user EEPROM is not used. In case the EEPROM is erased or rewritten by accidient it is sufficient to store the product string using FT_PROG, set “Vendor Desc” to “Arrow”, “Product Desc” to “Arrow USB Blaster”; port A to “245 FIFO”, D2XX; port B to “RS232 UART”, “Virtual COM Port”, VID/PID must be “FTDI Default”, serial number enabled, prefix “AR”.

Note: for Linux users - due to Linux driver restriction it is not possible to use JTAG and UART at the same time with FT2232. On windows Channel B can be used as regular COM port while JTAG operations work on channel A.

Note: Signal Hound when connected disables arrow programmer to be recognized by Quartus. There maybe other similar cases.

More info: https://github.com/ArrowElectronics/AnalogMAX/wiki/Arrow-USB-Programmer

Microsemi FlashPro 5

With generation 5 Microsemi (now Microchip, previous Actel) changed from Cypress USB SoC to FTDI based solution. Flashpro 5 is a FT4232H based dongle or on-board solution with JTAG on channel A, but FT2232H can also be used, it is recognized as well by Microchip tools.

For debugging Microchip bundles their tools with customized OpenOCD pre-compiled files, this raises some concerns about legal status as OpenOCD prevents the use of D2XX drivers (GPL license restriction).