# Open FPGA Toolchains and Machine Learning with Brian Faith of QuickLogic

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2021-01-11
- Length: 1h 23m
- Episode: 525
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-01-11-open-fpga-toolchains-and-machine-learning-with-brian-faith-of-quicklogic
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/525-open-fpga-toolchains-and-machine-learning-with-brian-faith-of-quicklogic/

## Summary

Brian Faith, CEO of QuickLogic, explains how the company shifted from proprietary tools to adopting SymbiFlow as its official open-source FPGA toolchain, a decision driven by persistent engagement with Google’s Tim Ansell. He details the integration of the SensiML platform to enable low-power machine learning on devices like the EOS S3, allowing software engineers to build AI models without deep hardware expertise. Faith discusses the strategic move to license embedded FPGA IP and participate in open hardware initiatives like the Open Hardware Group and Chips Alliance to support mass customization and heterogeneous computing at the edge.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-01-11-open-fpga-toolchains-and-machine-learning-with-brian-faith-of-quicklogic#t=0) Introduction: Brian Faith and QuickLogic
- [1:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-01-11-open-fpga-toolchains-and-machine-learning-with-brian-faith-of-quicklogic#t=62) Adopting SymbiFlow and Tim Ansell's Persistence
- [4:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-01-11-open-fpga-toolchains-and-machine-learning-with-brian-faith-of-quicklogic#t=269) Transitioning from Proprietary to Open Source Tools
- [8:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-01-11-open-fpga-toolchains-and-machine-learning-with-brian-faith-of-quicklogic#t=539) Software Engineers and Network Effects with SymbiFlow
- [13:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-01-11-open-fpga-toolchains-and-machine-learning-with-brian-faith-of-quicklogic#t=781) Publishing Bitstream Documentation and IP Strategy
- [17:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-01-11-open-fpga-toolchains-and-machine-learning-with-brian-faith-of-quicklogic#t=1047) IP Licensing, Open Hardware Group, and RISC-V
- [27:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-01-11-open-fpga-toolchains-and-machine-learning-with-brian-faith-of-quicklogic#t=1674) Focus on Low Power Edge and Heterogeneous Computing
- [39:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-01-11-open-fpga-toolchains-and-machine-learning-with-brian-faith-of-quicklogic#t=2360) QuickFeather Board and SensiML Machine Learning Workflow
- [53:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-01-11-open-fpga-toolchains-and-machine-learning-with-brian-faith-of-quicklogic#t=3214) EOS S3 Architecture and Embedded FPGA Capabilities
- [1:03:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-01-11-open-fpga-toolchains-and-machine-learning-with-brian-faith-of-quicklogic#t=3789) Pricing, Distribution, and Industrial Applications

## Topics

- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- QuickLogic (company)
- SymbiFlow (tool)
- SensiML (company)
- EOS S3 (product)
- QuickFeather (product)
- Tim Ansell (other)
- Google (company)
- RISC-V (chip)
- Open Hardware Group (other)
- Chips Alliance (other)
- Infineon (company)
- MQB (company)
- TensorFlow Lite (tool)
- FreeRTOS (tool)
- Zephyr (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [CEO Interview: Flex Logix’ Geoff Tate on AI | Open Source Hits Hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-02-05-ceo-interview-flex-logix-geoff-tate-on-ai-open-source-hits-hardware) (EE Times Current)
- [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)
- [044 - Scots Army Knife](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-01-03-044-scots-army-knife) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [T-25-010 :  Ioannis Papamanoglou and Narayan Powderly - Engineers transforming how we design, test, and build hardware with atopile](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2026-01-01-t-25-010-ioannis-papamanoglou-and-narayan-powderly-engineers-transforming-how-we) (TRADEOFFS)
- [Is FPGA the Best Engineering Career? With Adam Taylor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-04-14-is-fpga-the-best-engineering-career-with-adam-taylor) (OnTrack)

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