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  • Author Author: rscasny
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Poll: What Are You Doing This Summer? How About 'A Summer of FPGAs'? What Do You Want to Learn?

Summer is in the air! (Tomorrow in Chicago, it's supposed to reach the balmy 80s. Hurrah.)

 

Speaking of summer...What are you doing this summer?

 

element14 is planning right now a very special event called, "A Summer of FPGAs."

 

Over the course of the summer, element14 will be holding a lot of activities that are focused around FPGAs. We will also include new learning content, roadtests, informative webinars, and an open virtual panel discussion, The Evolution of FPGAs.

 

We are contacting multiple FPGA manufacturers to participate in this summer long and comprehensive event. If you want to learn about FPGA technology, I'd encourage you to attend or sign up for the activities.

 

We are still finalizing what A Summer of FPGAs will consist of. That's the purpose of this poll. We plan on having mini-events or content on a variety of topics. We would like to gauge your interest level or give you a chance to suggest FPGA-related topics you would like to learn about.

 

So, vote on the topic that most interests you. Or, in the comments section add an FPGA-related topic and we will bring it up in our next meetings.

 

Sincerely,

Randall Scasny

Element14 Team

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  • I think what has been missing so far with FPGA devices is a good process for how you determine if you need an FPGA and then a process for choosing the right FPGA for your application.

     

    Part of this discussion needs to be the tools required and the time involved with becoming proficient with those tools.

     

    DAB

  • in reply to DAB

      wrote:

     


    Part of this discussion needs to be the tools required and the time involved with becoming proficient with those tools.

     

    I think this would be hard to narrow down since each FPGA vendor uses a different set of tools and some FPGAs, such as a Xilinx MPSoC, have more functionality beyond a standard FPGA since they include ARM cores or other non FPGA chip.  Historically, FPGA development was based around VHDL or Verilog, but these days some of that is even being abstracted away where an FPGA can be programed in either C++ or even Python.  It does seem that FPGA development is getting more Software friendly rather than the traditional Hardware only focus.

     

    As far as time involved to become proficient with the tools, that will really depend on the individual and their background.

     

    At least that is the way I see it.

  • in reply to jomoenginer

    My point exactly.

     

    We have a large number of people on element 14 who might want to use FPGA, but are either unfamiliar with the devices and the tools needed to make them work.

     

    I would like to see the full process from idea to implementation showing the decision points, an estimate on time involved with each step, and skill level you would need before attempting the build.

     

    I am an experienced systems engineer and have worked with bit slice technology, but it has been a while since I used any of those devices.

     

    To pick up a FPGA device and use it will require a lot of time (my perception) so I need to be convinced that the end result is worth the investment in time and effort.

     

    I understand that the vendors would like a new market for their products, but from my perspective, they are a solution looking for an application.

     

    If they want more people to use the FPGA, then they need to go a long way to educate even experience engineers to properly use their devices.

     

    If your first experience with the device is bad or an unpleasant experience, you will probably not use it again.

     

    DAB

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  • in reply to jomoenginer

    My point exactly.

     

    We have a large number of people on element 14 who might want to use FPGA, but are either unfamiliar with the devices and the tools needed to make them work.

     

    I would like to see the full process from idea to implementation showing the decision points, an estimate on time involved with each step, and skill level you would need before attempting the build.

     

    I am an experienced systems engineer and have worked with bit slice technology, but it has been a while since I used any of those devices.

     

    To pick up a FPGA device and use it will require a lot of time (my perception) so I need to be convinced that the end result is worth the investment in time and effort.

     

    I understand that the vendors would like a new market for their products, but from my perspective, they are a solution looking for an application.

     

    If they want more people to use the FPGA, then they need to go a long way to educate even experience engineers to properly use their devices.

     

    If your first experience with the device is bad or an unpleasant experience, you will probably not use it again.

     

    DAB

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