Learning About FPGA

: Description : Notes on my investigation into use of FPGA from my perspective as a software developer.

: Status : Initial research

See also: Learning About Icarus Verilog, Learning About GtkWave

Introduction

At this stage I plan to focus on Verilog due to its "C-like style" and the fact I was introduced to it before VHDL.

Initially I intend to try the Icarus Verilog toolset (wiki), described as a GPL "Verilog simulation and synthesis tool".

Notes

• Verilog vs VHDL -- in a nutshell

• The Verilog simulator is apparently an interpreter—if speed is an issue the GPL Verilator tool might be another option for (significantly) faster simulation.

• To view a list of signals in GtkWave you need to select them from the "Search" menu. See Learning About GtkWave for more details.

• Digilent C-Mod -- Seems like a possible low-cost way into CPLD.

Icarus Verilog links

• Icarus Verilog User Guide includes Getting Started.

• Emacs Verilog-Mode

General Links

• "Hardware Design for Software Developers" slide show -- The presentation that started it all for me.

• John's FPGA Page

• GPL Cver -- "Verilog HDL simulator"

• A Verilog Introduction for Hackers

• "Is There A Such Thing As A Cheap Fpga?"

• "Build A CPLD Dev Board" -- Altera based

• "Getting started with programmable logic" -- Xilinx based

• Comparison Table of "Cheap" FPGA options

• GALS for Electronics Hobby

Tutorial, Example and Design Links

• "How do I generate clock in Verilog?"

• "Top-down Design and Synthesis Issues for Sequential Always Blocks"

• "Useful Verilog examples"

• The Designer’s Guide to Verilog -- Includes useful tutorial

• Welcome To Verilog Page -- Includes multiple Verilog Examples and extremely comprehensive Verilog Tutorial featuring Verilog In One Day section. Also: Verilog Quick Reference

• Verilog.Net -- includes: Free Verilog tools list and Verilog Docs & Tutorials list

• Peter Chambers' "10 commandments of excellent design" (pdf)

• How to "use the $dumpfile directive to create a file that contains the dumped waveforms".

• "FPGA Interfacing of HD44780 Based LCD Using Delayed FSM"

• "An Introduction To Verilog"

• DSP and Computer Graphics using FPGA's Blog

Other links

• MyHDL -- "Open source Python package that lets you go from Python to silicon."

• Simple CPLD-powered PCI card