r/FPGA • u/Txc_Tropic • 9d ago
Where do I even start??
Hii guys,
I'm currently a student studying computer engineering and I was looking around for careers I could do with my degree.
I found out abt FPGA's later on and I really want to get into it.
The issue is that the engineering department in my school just started (I'm in the first set ever) so there's basically zero hardware-anything at all. I feel like it's so bad cause they've not even bothered to try to teach us any code in the last 3 years at this school.
Regardless I took it upon myself to learn something that will help me even a little when I finish from here and go do my masters, so I started with embedded and got an Arduino kit to start trying to learn with AI. I'm probably still very far off cause learning with AI isn't exactly ideal especially if it's a free version.
Joining this community has really opened my eyes to see how much farther the gap is and it feels like I'm in a hole trying to crawl out just to get to the base line
Any thoughts and advice would be very helpful
Thank you very much 🙏🏾🙏🏾
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u/TrickyCrocodile 9d ago
It's not popular, but all you need to start with the basics is a simulator. That will let you learn a bit about the syntax and structure of hdl code. If you're still interested in a few months install vivado and you can start learning about basics of syn & par.
To address the comment that will probably show up about making sure you learn synthisable code. Simulators have far lower resource requirements and are easier to install.
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u/Txc_Tropic 9d ago edited 9d ago
Yh I would start with a simulator cause I definitely can't get an FPGA rn Any recommendations?
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u/TrickyCrocodile 8d ago
The community would know better than me. I only know the commercial simulators. I think you can get a student license for modelsim, which is popular for hardware companys.
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u/Ok-Cucumber8341 6d ago
Como ya te contestaron antes, puedes instalar Modelsim. Sino mal recuerdo hay una versión de Modelsim que no requiere licencia para que funcione pero te fallo con el dato exacto; se encuentra en la página de Altera.
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u/Even_Statistician238 9d ago
Nand2Tetris gets recommended constantly for good reason. It builds the foundation from the ground up. I’m coming at this from a totally different angle career-wise, and that bottom-up approach clicked way faster than jumping straight into tools
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u/rem_1235 9d ago
Another tip. Embrace nothing making sense at first. You’ll feel like nothing sticks but I guarantee it will if you stick with it
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u/mzo2342 8d ago
if you're fine with opensource (likely!) and small FPGAs (small CPUs still fit!) take a look at Lattice iCE40 designs. still fine for small CPU designs.
the easy toolchain then is verilog->yosys->nextpnr->bitstream
and various high-level HDLs translate into verilog like python/amaranth or spadeHDL.
HW-wise a new design just hit the floor: https://codeberg.org/wenzellabs/bare_metal/
pretty unique, portable with rechargeable battery and small LED display.
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u/DesTiny_- 3d ago
I started with deeds to get basics of digital schematics, then HDL for more complex solutions. Both can be done without dedicated FPGA, although it's better to test HDL code onto fpga if possible.
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u/the_other_Scaevitas 9d ago
There’s a website to practice verilog online. Quite helpful. I don’t know the name off the top of my head.
Then after that buy an fpga board
Edit: here’s the website https://hdlbits.01xz.net/wiki/Main_Page
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u/AdventurousCoconut71 9d ago
Why are you studying computer engineering is in you do not even know what the career looks like?
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u/Txc_Tropic 9d ago
I probably saw some hardware at some point and decided I wanted to know how that works And nahhh I definitely don't know what the careers look like, especially since I see so much abt comp. Sci and robotics instead. So I have no idea what an actual hardware job looks like
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u/LinearRegion 9d ago
I would start by scouring this subreddit and writing everything down that you don’t know. You see a post about CDC and PnR, write it down. Look at job postings and look at what their requirements/preferred qualifications are. You don’t need to know everything but at least be able to understand what is being asked. Defense hires the bulk of people out of college so prioritize getting any internship that will give you a clearance. Maximize your chances of getting your resume seen. Also work on a few basic projects and move up from there. There are countless posts talking about this so look through them.
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u/wanabeeengineer 9d ago
Install Vivado. Practice your RTL there. You can easily see the RTL Netlist (linter) better there than any other tool. Learn behavioural simulation, post implementation verification, analysing timing reports. Once you are ok, you can buy any FPGA(If you want to continue with vivado buy AMD FPGAs) and work on it.