# An Interview with Luke Valenty

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2018-06-04
- Length: 1h 36m
- Episode: 395
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-04-an-interview-with-luke-valenty
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/395-an-interview-with-luke-valenty/

## Summary

Luke Valenty of TinyFPGA.com explains how open source toolchains like Ice Studio and APIO lower the barrier to entry for FPGAs, enabling makers to build custom microcontrollers and high-speed interfaces without proprietary software. He details the design of the Tiny FPGA BX board, which integrates a USB device directly into the FPGA fabric to eliminate expensive external chips, and discusses the challenges of manufacturing small QFN and BGA packages. Valenty also outlines his roadmap for the upcoming EX board, which will utilize Lattice ECP5 high-speed transceivers to support USB-3 and PCIe, aiming for a crowdfunding campaign in the fall.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-04-an-interview-with-luke-valenty#t=0) Introduction: Luke Valenty and TinyFPGA
- [1:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-04-an-interview-with-luke-valenty#t=66) Arduino FPGA Board and Maker Community Validation
- [2:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-04-an-interview-with-luke-valenty#t=159) Custom Microcontrollers and Peripheral Flexibility
- [8:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-04-an-interview-with-luke-valenty#t=510) Open Source Toolchains: Ice Studio and APIO
- [18:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-04-an-interview-with-luke-valenty#t=1103) Low Power IoT Nodes and Hardware Pipelines
- [36:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-04-an-interview-with-luke-valenty#t=2165) Tiny FPGA A Series and B2 Design History
- [53:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-04-an-interview-with-luke-valenty#t=3209) Manufacturing Challenges: USB Connectors and BGA Footprints
- [1:09:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-04-an-interview-with-luke-valenty#t=4163) Getting Started with the BX Board and Tooling
- [1:16:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-04-an-interview-with-luke-valenty#t=4601) Future EX Board: ECP5, USB-3, and Crowdfunding

## Topics

- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- TinyFPGA (company)
- Tiny FPGA BX (product)
- Tiny FPGA A Series (product)
- Arduino (company)
- Ice Studio (tool)
- APIO (tool)
- Lattice (company)
- iCE40 (chip)
- ECP5 (chip)
- KiCad (tool)
- PCBWay (company)
- Crowd Supply (company)
- Tindie (company)
- Xilinx (company)
- Digilent (company)
- FTDI (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [044 - Scots Army Knife](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-01-03-044-scots-army-knife) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [Ep002: Curious Gadgets and the FPGA Brain Trust](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-01-15-ep002-curious-gadgets-and-the-fpga-brain-trust) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [129: Atoms Not Bits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-12-09-129-atoms-not-bits) (Embedded.fm)
- [100: Unintentional Radiator](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-05-06-100-unintentional-radiator) (Embedded.fm)
- [454: Printf Hello](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-07-06-454-printf-hello) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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