How am I supposed to get lattice diamond?

[dlow]

Trying eevblog, because I don't know where else to turn. Maybe someone here can help.

Lattice's site seems completely fubar in arcane ways to me. I can't download diamond, I can't request a license, and the support ticket system doesn't appear to work (amongst other things). I've tried calling multiple lattice offices, emailed several addresses (webmaster@, lic_admin@ & helpdeskstaff@), and left voicemail messages, all with no response. One person actually said that it was "impossible for the website to be broken" and then laughed at me. Great customer service guys! Meanwhile, I have an FPGA sitting on my desk that I literally can't do a thing with. Unfortunately, I've had it for several months, so returning it isn't an option.

Based on the forum discussion here, I was at least able to deduce the correct url to download a current copy of diamond, so I now have version 3.8 of the software installed. However, I have no means to get a license and I assume the FPGA is useless without one.

When I click the link to request a license, free or otherwise, here, this is what I get: http://imgur.com/a/xcGsQ I get similar results for a lot of the other links like downloading software or filing a support request. Not a lot to go on there...


I've been getting this issue for well over a week now. I'm currently logged in and I don't have any emails from lattice that provide any context as to what's going on.

Anyone able to help here? Are there other options I can use other than diamond (my device is a machxo2)?

EDIT: Just to clarify, it's the license request links that aren't working. For example, the "request a Free License" link. Also, I am registered with the site and logged in (as you can see in the screenshot posted above).

[suicidaleggroll]

When I click the link to request a license, free or otherwise, here, this is what I get: http://imgur.com/a/xcGsQ I get similar results for a lot of the other links like downloading software or filing a support request. Not a lot to go on there...

I get a login page.  I don't have a Lattice account so I can't go past that, do you at least get there?
Have you tried using a different machine, OS, and/or browser to access their site?

[dlow]

I get a login page.  I don't have a Lattice account so I can't go past that, do you at least get there?
Have you tried using a different machine, OS, and/or browser to access their site?

Thanks for checking.

Yeah, I created an account a while ago and I'm logged in. Also tried with Microsoft Edge in addition to Chrome. Still no dice.

[PA0PBZ]

When I click the link to request a license, free or otherwise, here, this is what I get: http://imgur.com/a/xcGsQ I get similar results for a lot of the other links like downloading software or filing a support request. Not a lot to go on there...

When I click the here link this is what I get, so there must be something going wrong at your end:

[dlow]

When I click the here link this is what I get, so there must be something going wrong at your end:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/microcontrollers/how-am-i-supposed-to-get-lattice-diamond/?action=dlattach;attach=290569;image

Yeah, that page works. It's the request links that are broken for me. You have to be signed in and click the "request a Free License" or the "Diamond Subscription License" Links.

[Scrts]

Did you try to access the website using plain simple Internet Explorer?

I have some difficulties accessing some websites at work - because my employer use hardware firewalls that filters some words or links... E.g. if there's word "ebay" in subject of the thread here - it's blocked.

[dlow]

Did you try to access the website using plain simple Internet Explorer?

I have some difficulties accessing some websites at work - because my employer use hardware firewalls that filters some words or links... E.g. if there's word "ebay" in subject of the thread here - it's blocked.

So far I have tried: Windows 10 Chrome, Windows 10 Edge, Windows 10 explorer, Windows 10 firefox, OSX Chrome, OSX Safari, OSX firefox and Android Chrome. No dice with any.

Here's a gif of what happens: http://imgur.com/a/9fkU7

[Dubbie]

I had this exact problem.

Turns out that after bugging them for a bit, I got the following email:

"We have received your email regarding your request to download software from our website.
In order to process it, we conduct reviews of the individual and company before granting access.
 
In this regard, can you please give us a background about the business of your company and explicate how our development board, license and software will be used for?"

I replied with the appropriate info and then everything magically started working and not giving strange errors.

[dlow]

I had this exact problem.

Turns out that after bugging them for a bit, I got the following email:

"We have received your email regarding your request to download software from our website.
In order to process it, we conduct reviews of the individual and company before granting access.
 
In this regard, can you please give us a background about the business of your company and explicate how our development board, license and software will be used for?"

I replied with the appropriate info and then everything magically started working and not giving strange errors.

I was afraid of that. So you can buy the chips, but they won't give you a way to program them unless they deem you worthy of their good graces? That's bonkers.

[julian1]

Consider buying a Lattice ICE40 variant. On Debian, a complete toolkit - yosys Verilog and icestorm is just an apt-get install away. It's sufficiently mature to synthesize soft-core cpus and keeps you focused on writing Verilog not learning the toolchain.

The simplest ICE40 kit is a $25 Icestick  https://www.google.com.au/search?q=lattice+icestick&source=lnms&tbm=isch

If it sounds extreme to be choosing hardware just to get access to a decent software toolchain - well that's exactly what I did. I tossed a couple of small xilinx dev boards in order to avoid bloated ISE and vivado.

[Dubbie]

Tell me about it.

At the moment I am trying to buy one of their Silicon Image IC's. You'd think I was trying to buy an ICBM for all the trouble it is.

R

[dlow]

:-(

Well, anyone know of any email addresses or phone numbers I can try? If I could just get in touch with someone... I'd prefer not to buy more hardware and I'm pretty happy with what I have, I just want to develop on it.

[Dubbie]

:-(

Well, anyone know of any email addresses or phone numbers I can try? If I could just get in touch with someone... I'd prefer not to buy more hardware and I'm pretty happy with what I have, I just want to develop on it.

I have PMed you the details of who I dealt with.


Sent from my phone using Tapatalk

[mikeselectricstuff]

This sort of situation can sometimes be resolved following a well-crafted tweet. Obviously depends how important the company thinks social media is but it's worked for  me on some occasions  with other companies.

[StuUK]

This sort of situation can sometimes be resolved following a well-crafted tweet. Obviously depends how important the company thinks social media is but it's worked for  me on some occasions  with other companies.

Yep, I agree... works wonders....

[ale500]

This happened to me too. Sometimes, specially on weekends, their site seems to be partially down. Once, not long ago, their licensing server had an expired license and the licenses you were getting were thus incomplete. I'd try later on, say in a couple of days. I waited a week for the new license!, but it is just for hobby uses.

[dlow]

Thank you all for the help!

I have PMed you the details of who I dealt with.
Sent from my phone using Tapatalk

Thanks! I sent him an email. With any luck, hopefully I'll get a response.

This sort of situation can sometimes be resolved following a well-crafted tweet. Obviously depends how important the company thinks social media is but it's worked for  me on some occasions  with other companies.

Thanks Mike (love your channel btw)! Yeah, I was hoping not to have to get that far into it, but you're right that I should try social media next if I don't make progress in the next few days.

This happened to me too. Sometimes, specially on weekends, their site seems to be partially down. Once, not long ago, their licensing server had an expired license and the licenses you were getting were thus incomplete. I'd try later on, say in a couple of days. I waited a week for the new license!, but it is just for hobby uses.

Man, that's crazy. It's been about two weeks for me since I first emailed them. Something is definitely up. I think either my account isn't activated or the website has issues. It's not just the license request that's not working. The download links, the support form, some document links and several other things are also giving this response when I click them.

[lujji]

I had the same problem when I first got my XO2 devboard. I kept seeing 'page not found error', description said that it takes 2 days to activate the account - same story after two days. Since then I had to register a dozen of fake accounts so here are some tips:
1. When registering you have to specify company name where you can write something like 'personal use' or 'unaffiliated'.  Always use a fake or real company name - this way the accounts I created were activated immediately.
2. Don't register your real MAC address - instead, generate a random one and spoof it on all the machines where you use Diamond.

[dlow]

I had the same problem when I first got my XO2 devboard. I kept seeing 'page not found error', description said that it takes 2 days to activate the account - same story after two days. Since then I had to register a dozen of fake accounts so here are some tips:
1. When registering you have to specify company name where you can write something like 'personal use' or 'unaffiliated'.  Always use a fake or real company name - this way the accounts I created were activated immediately.
2. Don't register your real MAC address - instead, generate a random one and spoof it on all the machines where you use Diamond.

Hah! I had the same theory. I assume there's someone in the background approving these things and they simply don't care if it's some random joe blow filling these out. I'm going to take another stab at it using your advice. Thanks!

[MagicSmoker]

This is only of tangential help to the OP, but I registered on Lattice yesterday using my actual business info and just d/l'ed Icecube2 a few minutes ago, installed it, and requested and received a license file. It does say on the license request web page that javascript is required for it to work.

[dlow]

This is only of tangential help to the OP, but I registered on Lattice yesterday using my actual business info and just d/l'ed Icecube2 a few minutes ago, installed it, and requested and received a license file. It does say on the license request web page that javascript is required for it to work.

What tha? I wonder if it's b/c I'm using a gmail email address.

[ebclr]

I get the Diamond and license is less than 10 minutes, simply register and everything will work just fine.

Without registration no software, simple as that

[dlow]

I get the Diamond and license is less than 10 minutes, simply register and everything will work just fine.

Without registration no software, simple as that

Check above. I provided a gif that shows what's happening. I have an account and I'm logged in.

[mikeselectricstuff]

On the few occasions I've done it, license has come back pretty much straight away, including out of business hours. 
It may be that there is some manual approval process for a new account perhaps ?

[ebclr]

Be patient, and check spam inbox

[dlow]

ARGGGGG!! Just in case anyone comes across this thread in the future, the website does not appear to work with google accounts (gmail or g-suite). I just tried with hotmail and it worked fine! 

There is no approval process. It's instantaneous. Given that it's an ASP, there's no way to know what's happening on the back-end. They must be doing something with information from the email that gets sent, because it also had issues with my personal domain.

Thanks for all the help guys. We can close this one out I guess.

[Elf]

I just bought a MachXO3 board and I am running into the same thing. I am kind of peeved; I thought that I would give them a try as they are "local" to me (headquarters not too far off in Portland, OR).

I wonder whether I would get any traction if I just walked in and asked. I am just sort of sad to have to toss the board and the local company and go back to Xilinx/webpack. From the thread it seems like it is time to go play whack-a-mole with e-mail addresses and company names? Three Four so far for me and no luck.

Here is a question, are there any FPGAs where the tool chain:

• Is proprietary but freely available, preferably not terrible, and most importantly doesn't require juggling licenses?
• Has a viable open source equivalent approaching the maturity of AVR / ARM tool chains?

I see the mention for iCE40 below with the icestorm tools; any others? No need for any fancy IP core support or anything like that, just uncooked logic.

[Dubbie]

In my experience the Lattice is definitely worth it if you can get past the ridiculous barriers to retrieving the software.

[Elf]

In my experience the Lattice is definitely worth it if you can get past the ridiculous barriers to retrieving the software.

I am going to try over the next week to obtain it; I sort of have a soft spot for them and their actual hardware products seem decent.

I've tried my personal domain, an outlook.com address, and even my work e-mail so far. No luck on any of them. I will probably even call or ask around town to see if I know someone that knows someone that works there. We'll see. Past a certain point though, if they don't want to give me the software I don't know what else to do about it. Frustrating.

They also seem to have a $99 promotion on right now for a year's worth of their full product which isn't too bad, but I don't really know how much I like the idea of paying every year to use a development environment, especially for the rather simple stuff I am trying to do. And I'm sure the 2nd year won't be anywhere near $99.

These are all for FREE SOFTWARE they are giving out.  Nothing NDA.  Nothing needing to be paid for.  Just PUBLIC FREE SOFTWARE needed to use the devices which they actively promote to student / education / maker uses in all cases.
[...]
Any company this stupid with public user experience should just go out of business.  I mean it is great they have low cost dev tools or free software for hobby / learning / whatever purposes but if they make it so unusable then what is the point?

This is what boggles me. Talk about a bad first experience. It's almost like they don't even want people to use their products.

If I were a high volume commercial buyer I am sure I would have a sales rep to smooth the way. Electronics isn't what I do professionally, but even so, for the stuff I do get to make or influence procurement decisions on, I usually don't start out by just talking to sales and waving around the idea of a lucrative contract. I find it's nice to get an idea of the product informally first and have a look around before I get the full demo from a sales droid and the endless followup calls, or to have to deal with expensing or procurement processes for something I'm just sampling. I have to imagine it isn't just hobbyists that are put off by this sort of a thing. Why even build license management into a free evaluation product? How does that benefit anybody?

Speaking of which I just took another look at Altera Quartus again for the first time since they were bought by Intel. It says "free, no license file required." I will probably download it tomorrow and see. The MAX 10 line looks decent.

[ali_asadzadeh]

They invented torrents for us for these reasons!

[mikeselectricstuff]

I think these sites have a contest with each other as to who can "raise the bar" to make access to basic functionality, information, and software as difficult as humanly possible.

These are all for FREE SOFTWARE they are giving out.  Nothing NDA.  Nothing needing to be paid for.  Just PUBLIC FREE SOFTWARE needed to use the devices which they actively promote to student / education / maker uses in all cases.

As FPGA software comprises parts from multiple vendors, I suspect Lattice have to pay some of them based on number of users, so that may be one reason they make it less than trivial.
It may also be the case that there may be some issues around verification for export control.

And if the licensing fairies favor you and it somehow actually works you must hope that you never need to update / replace your OS or HDD or PC since I think you have only maybe 1 or 2 chances per 1.5 years or so to change your license to another PC for their FREE SOFTWARE. 

So forget about running a copy on your laptop and another on a desktop and then maybe trying some higher performance computer if your experimental one is too slow to handle the bloat of the tools since it is all node locked to that one original OS/PC for zero reason with the free version!

MAC Spoofing can often be used to overcome this issue.

It might be worth talking to one of their distributors, as they will probably have contacts that can get things moving.

[mikeselectricstuff]

They invented torrents for us for these reasons!

Except they email you the license info.

[ebclr]

What kind of problems are you experiencing?

I don't know if I'm a lucky person, but Intel ( ex altera ) and lattice diamond software free or evaluations, are very simple to get and easy to install from Altera / Lattice, it's a question of a registration or log in if you already have one account and everything runs just fine, sometimes. In a matter of minutes is everything up and running, What is the point here?

[mikeselectricstuff]

AFAICS some people are having trouble registering an account with no obvious explanation.

[Elf]

For those that may have the same issue, I had some luck mailing Lattice's webmaster@ address. They said:

There was an error in our account processing that delayed the full activation of your account.
The problem has been resolved and you should now be able to access all site resources, including software downloads and licensing.

After that I was able to log in with the original sign-up address and download an automatically generated license.

I also had luck downloading Altera Quartus from Intel with just an e-mail verified signup, so that wasn't too bad. 12GB install size, but at least it doesn't seem to have any crazy DRM scheme like was mentioned above with Xilinx. Ordered some Altera dev boards as well.

[suicidaleggroll]

at least it doesn't seem to have any crazy DRM scheme like was mentioned above with Xilinx.

I've used Xilinx boards, ICs, and dev tools for many years.  I honestly have no idea what that other poster was talking about...you download one Webpack license and you're done.  It can be copied to any other computer without issue, and there is no hardware restriction.  When you get into the very powerful chips that can't use the Webpack license then things get more complicated, but AFAIK it's no different with the other manufacturers either.

[Axk]

From my experience it looks like they have some sort of additional manual account validation depending on the info you enter and (thought less likely) the IP address you register from.

So if the info you entered is fine with the automatic validation you can download the software and get a free licence right away, otherwise your account is flagged for manual validation.

As to the software itself it's not difficult to get started. At least for a LED blinking Hello World with XO2-1200 it was pretty straight forward to get it to work with a Chinese cable from Ebay (HW-USBN-2A) and my own simple dev board that I laid out to see if I get it all right and can use the XO2s in other designs.