FPGA Programming

https://joemarini.com/articles/ibm-websphere-application-server-in-action

FPGA programming is the process of planning and designing an application program that operates with the specific hardware circuit. It is a hardware-programmable technology that uses the combination of logic gates and memory blocks to undertake computing tasks. The main goal of the process is to create an electronic circuit that will produce specific output when powered on.

The process of implementing an FPGA solution requires a lot of planning to make sure that all features needed are present and working properly. A requirements document that contains all specifications and details will reduce the chance of issues during the process of implementation. It’s also a good idea to simulate the design at different stages of the development using tools such as Mentor Graphics Questa and Cadence Vivado together with Simulink.

Two programming languages have historically been the mainstay of work involved in FPGA programming: VHDL and Verilog. VHDL is similar to C and has a syntax more conducive to writing programs. Verilog has more of a V-like structure, and is considered more user-friendly by some.

Typically, FPGA designs are implemented as a block, also known as a logic block, also known as a cell. It contains common logic functions, such as multiplication, subtraction and addition, along with basic error checks like the sign or negation of a numerical value. It also has lookup tables (LUTs) that store predefined lists for logic outputs that can be utilized with any combination of inputs.