FPGA Development, Everywhere
Install Yosys, GHDL, or nextpnr? You don't have to. SynthesisDeck containerizes the entire synthesis toolchain in Docker — so your FPGA workflow runs identically on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
[project] name = "led_blink" [target] family = "ice40" device = "hx1k" package = "tq144" board = "icestick" [sources] top = "top" vhdl = ["src/*.vhdl"]
Your OS shouldn't dictate your FPGA workflow.
Traditional FPGA toolchains require different install procedures on every platform. SynthesisDeck solves this once — the entire synthesis stack runs inside a Docker container, so synthesis and programming behave identically regardless of the host OS.
The full toolchain. Zero configuration.
One Docker image replaces every manual install — Yosys, GHDL, nextpnr, iceprog, openFPGALoader. Your code stays local. Only the tools run in the container.
Docker-Powered Toolchain
Yosys, GHDL, nextpnr, iceprog — all containerized. Zero local installs. Run on any OS.
One-Click Build Pipeline
Synthesis → place & route → bitstream → flash. Full pipeline in a single command.
Multi-Family FPGA Support
iCE40, ECP5, Gowin, Nexus, MachXO2. Switch boards without changing your workflow.
VHDL & Verilog
Full VHDL-2008 via GHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog, and mixed-language projects.
Board Programming
Flash connected FPGAs directly from VS Code via iceprog or openFPGALoader.
Real-Time Build Panel
Cyberpunk-themed GUI shows pipeline progress stage by stage — no noise, just signal.
Simulation
Run GHDL testbench simulations from the command palette. Errors show in Problems panel.
PLL Generation
Generate PLL config files for iCE40 devices using icepll, integrated in the editor.
Supported Boards
| Family | Boards | Programmer | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| iCE40 | iCEstick · iCEBreaker · TinyFPGA BX · UPduino v3.1 | iceprog / openFPGALoader | Stable |
| ECP5 | ULX3S · OrangeCrab · Colorlight i5 | openFPGALoader | Stable |
| Gowin | Tang Nano 9K · Tang Nano 20K | openFPGALoader | Stable |
| Nexus | CrossLink-NX | openFPGALoader | Experimental |
| MachXO2 | MachXO2 series | openFPGALoader | Experimental |
Up and running in three steps
Install
Install SynthesisDeck from the VS Code Marketplace, then pull the Docker image with one click from the Welcome page. That’s your entire toolchain.
Configure
Create a project with fpga-project.toml — pick your board, family, and source files. Templates included.
Build & Ship
Hit Build & Program. The pipeline runs inside Docker, produces a bitstream, and flashes it to your board — on any OS.
Recent Releases
- Project cleanup: removed legacy toolchain, Python CLI sunset
- Revamped Marketplace README — all 15 commands documented
- Added workspace marker (.synthesisdeck/) and Advanced Mode docs
- Removed all auto-open Output panel calls
- Extension is now fully silent unless Advanced Mode is enabled
- Replaced terminal with background child_process execution
- Build, simulate, PLL, clean — all run without opening a terminal