Install IDE

We need to use the Gowin IDE to program Gowin FPGA chips, and documentation about the ide can be found here.

• Download and install the corresponding edition of the IDE according to your OS
• For linux users we suggested using Openfpgaloader to burn fpga. Read the end of this page burn-in-linux for more details.

Install the IDE

Download the IDE

• The IDE can be downloaded from this page after logging in.

It may look difference as this screenshot is from 2023.05.29 and the IDE has since been updated.

The IDE is available in two editions: Standard Edition and Education Edition.

The Standard Edition IDE requires license, which you can get from GOWIN Semiconductor Corp.

The Education Edition IDE is free to use, but supports fewer devices and includes fewer IP cores.

The following figure (updated 2025/09/29) shows the part numbers (PN) supported in the latest Education Edition IDE

The chips and boards in the following table can be synthesized and programmed via Educational IDE.

The FPGA models of the Tang series boards currently on sale are as follows:

All boards listed above, except the Mega 138K Pro, can be used with the Education Edition IDE.

For those who want to use Tang Nano (Onboard jtag is CH552), you'll need to use the Standard Edition IDE and apply for a license from GOWIN Semiconductor Corp.

• Notes
• Starting from July 2025, the chip model for both 138K packages (PG484A and FPG676A) will change from GW5AST-138B to GW5AST-138C. The older B-version FPGA has been discontinued by the manufacturer.
• For the C-Version 138K, you must select Device Version: C in the IDE; otherwise, SSRAM cannot be used and unexpected compatibiliHow to Identify Device Version.
• Click Here to see how to identify the device version.

Install

macOS

For macOS, just download the DMG image of macOS edition IDE, double click the DMG file to mount it, then drag the GOWIN_IDE.app to your Application Folder.

Because the GOWIN IDE DMG image is not signed, it may be blocked by macOS Gatekeeper. To proceed, you will need to manually allow it to run. When the warning dialog appears, open System Settings → Privacy & Security, then click “Open Anyway.”

Alternatively, you can remove the quarantine attribute from the DMG via Terminal with:

xattr -c <path-to-dmg>

After that, double‑click the DMG to mount and run it.

Linux OS

For linux, download the Linux edition IDE and decompress it, the executable file gw_ide is in the decompressed folder /IDE/bin/. Execute it on command line to run the GOWIN IDE. Remember to change the permission of the software to make it executable with chmod + x if running the software fails.

Windows OS

Simply download the software and install it.

Making sure to install all components.

In the second picture, Gowin is the IDE which we will use to generate the bitstream file, and the Gowin programmer is what we use to burn it to the fpga. But the programmer installed with IDE does not match the USB-Jtag we provide. So we suggest you visit Tang questions to see how to replace programmer software with one will work better.

After you finish installing IDE, you will need to install 2 drivers.

After installing everything there will be an IDE icon, like the one below, on your desktop.

Use the IDE

About the license

License can be applied on the Gowin official website, or you can use the online Lic service provided by Sipeed. In the IDE, select Float Lic and fill in the following information:

---Server 01---
ip: 106.55.34.119
port: 10559

if the ip not work, try use "gowinlic.sipeed.com" domain's IP.

The Educational edition IDE does not require a license.

The Standard edition IDE requires a license, which you should apply for from the Gowin official website, visit https://www.gowinsemi.com/en/support/license/ for more information, and there you will be able to make a choice of software between GOWIN EDA and GOWIN GMD. GOWIN EDA is what we use to program FPGA and the GOWIN GMD is what we use to program the hardcore or softcore in FPGA, so you should choose GOWIN EDA to get a license to run GOWIN IDE.

Verify license

When you run GOWIN IDE, a license manager message box will appear. Once you have a license file you can click Browse... and select your license file, then Check and finally Save.

Now you can use the GOWIN IDE.

Programmer

Because the Programmer installed with IDE may not match the USB-JTAG we provide it may not work. So for Windows users we recommended using this Programmer instead.

For Linux users, go to the end of this page to see the section burn-in-linux if you have issues with the Gowin programmer.

Other

It may take some time to receive a license. During this time we suggest you read the GOWIN Semiconductor Corp official documents, which are installed with the IDE.

There are three things in the IDE installation path: IDE folder, Programmer folder, uninst.exe

IDE folder：Here I suggest you look in the doc folder, where many GOWIN Semiconductor Corp official documents are, as shown below.

Programmer folder: There are also many documents here.

We suggest you delete the Programmer folder installed with the IDE and use this version Click me，which can solve some issues.

uninst.exe：This program uninstalls the IDE.

Burn in linux

Click here is how to burn the development board in linux.