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    <p>A neural network may not be the best starting point for learning how to program an FPGA. I would initially try something simpler like a counter driving LEDs or a numeric display and build up from there. Sites that may be of use include:</p> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.fpga4fun.com/" rel="noreferrer">http://www.fpga4fun.com/</a> - Excellent examples of simple projects and some boards.</li> <li><a href="http://opencores.org/" rel="noreferrer">http://opencores.org/</a> - Very useful reference code for many interfaces, etc...</li> </ul> <p>You may also like to consider using a soft processor in the FPGA to help your transition from C to VHDL or Verilog. That would allow you to move small code modules from one to the other to see the differences in hardware. The choice of language is somewhat arbitrary - I code in VHDL (syntactically similar to ADA) most of the time, but some of my colleagues prefer Verilog (syntactically similar to C). We debate it once in a while but really it's personal choice.</p> <p>As for the buyers / learners guide, you need:</p> <ol> <li><p><strong>Patience :)</strong> - The design cycle for FPGAs is significantly longer than for software due to the number of extra 'free parameters' in the build, so don't be surprised if it takes a while to get designs working exactly the way you want.</p></li> <li><p><strong>A development board</strong> - For learning, I would buy one from one of the three bigger FPGA vendors: Xilinx, Altera or Lattice. My preference is Xilinx at the moment but all three are good. For learning, don't buy one based on the higher-end parts - you don't need to when starting using FPGAs. For Xilinx, get one based on the Spartan series such as the SP601 (I have one myself). For Altera, buy a Cyclone one. The development boards will be significantly cheaper than those for the higher-end parts.</p></li> <li><p><strong>A programming cable</strong> - Most companies produce a USB programming cable with a special connector to program the devices on the board (often using JTAG). Some boards have the programming interface built in (such as the SP601 from Xilinx) so you don't need to spend extra money on it.</p></li> <li><p><strong>Build tools</strong> - There are many varieties of these but most of the big FPGA vendors provide a solution of their own. Bear in mind that the tools are only free for the smaller lower-performance FPGAs, for example the Xilinx ISE Webpack.</p> <p>The software comprises stages with which you may not be familiar having come from the software world. The specifics of the tool flow are always changing, but any tool you use should be able to get from your code to your specific device. The last part of this design flow is normally provided by the FPGA vendor because it's hardware-specific and proprietary. To give you a brief example, the software you need should take your VHDL and Verilog code and (this is the Xilinx version):</p> <ul> <li>'Synthesise' it into constructs that match the building blocks available inside your particular FPGA.</li> <li>'Translate &amp; map' the design into the part.</li> <li>'Place &amp; route' the logic in the specific device so it meets your timing requirements (e.g. the clock speed you want the design to run at).</li> </ul></li> </ol>
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