JAM File – What is .jam file and how to open it?

JAM File Format

A JAM file is a Jam STAPL File associated with the Quartus Prime software suite developed by Altera, a semiconductor company specializing in field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). JAM files store FPGA designs created using Altera’s proprietary programming language, SystemVerilog or VHDL. They contain the hardware description of the design, including its components, interconnections, and functionality. JAM files serve as intermediate representation files during the FPGA design flow, facilitating the conversion of source code into a format compatible with Altera’s FPGA chips.

JAM File Structure and Usage

JAM files are typically generated within the Quartus Prime software environment. They adhere to a hierarchical structure, with top-level modules encapsulating lower-level modules and components. The structure of a JAM file closely resembles the actual hardware design, making it easy for engineers to understand and modify. JAM files also include information about the design’s configuration, such as timing constraints, device settings, and pin assignments. They play a crucial role in the FPGA design flow by enabling engineers to perform simulations, optimizations, and place-and-route operations on the design prior to its final implementation.

Opening JAM Files with JAM STAPL

JAM files are specifically associated with the JAM STAPL software developed by Altera. To open a JAM file, you will need to have JAM STAPL installed on your computer. Once installed, you can double-click on the JAM file to open it directly in the software. JAM STAPL provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows you to view, edit, and analyze JAM files. The GUI includes various tools for creating and modifying JAM files, as well as simulating and debugging designs.

Alternative Methods for Opening JAM Files

In case you do not have JAM STAPL installed, there are a few alternative methods you can use to open JAM files. One option is to use a text editor such as Notepad or Sublime Text. JAM files are plain text files, so you can view and edit their contents using a text editor. However, this method is limited as it does not provide the same functionality and features as JAM STAPL. Another alternative is to use a JAM file viewer. There are several free and paid JAM file viewers available online, such as JAM Viewer and JAM Explorer. These viewers allow you to open and view JAM files without the need for JAM STAPL.

JAM File Format

A JAM file (Jam STAPL File) is a text file that contains the source code for a STAPL (Stream-Based Transaction Accelerator Programming Language) program. STAPL is a dataflow programming language developed by Altera, a provider of programmable logic devices (PLDs). STAPL programs are used to create hardware accelerators for FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays).

JAM files consist of a series of statements that define the dataflow graph of the STAPL program. Each statement represents an operation, such as addition, multiplication, or comparison, and is connected to other statements by streams of data. The dataflow graph defines the sequence of operations that will be performed when the STAPL program is executed on an FPGA. JAM files also contain declarations for variables, functions, and other objects used in the program.

JAM File Syntax

JAM files follow a specific syntax that defines the structure of the dataflow graph. The syntax includes keywords that specify the type of operation being performed, as well as the inputs and outputs of each operation. For example, the following JAM statement performs an addition operation on two variables, x and y, and stores the result in the variable z:


add x, y, z


The following table summarizes some of the keywords used in JAM syntax:

| Keyword | Description |
|—|—|
| add | Performs addition operation |
| sub | Performs subtraction operation |
| mul | Performs multiplication operation |
| div | Performs division operation |
| mod | Performs modulo operation |
| cmp | Performs comparison operation |
| assign | Assigns a value to a variable |
| if | Conditional statement |
| for | Loop statement |
| while | Loop statement |

JAM File Usage

JAM files are used to create hardware accelerators for FPGAs. Once a JAM file has been created, it can be compiled into a hardware design using the Altera Quartus Prime software. The hardware design can then be programmed into an FPGA, creating a custom hardware accelerator that can be used to perform data processing tasks at high speeds.

JAM files are a powerful tool for creating custom hardware accelerators for FPGAs. By using JAM, engineers can create hardware accelerators that are tailored to their specific application requirements, resulting in improved performance and efficiency.

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