Methods and apparatus are described for providing access to data in a programmable logic device (PLD). A hierarchy of directories and files are maintained in a virtual file system, which is registered with an operating system. The directories and files are associated with resources of a PLD. In response to program calls to file system routines that reference files associated with resources of the PLD, the virtual file system is invoked, and the virtual file system accesses state information in resources of the PLD.