some guidelines for whom who wanna start HDLs learning!

Hi All , 
This message is a reply for a question that we have all asked when we
are starting HDl learning .Please see the reply . I intend to share it
with you after i replied the mail personally ( I think it applies for
many among the peers here ) .. 
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Hi , 
        Your question is really very important. It is a sort of dilemma when itcomes to what you are addressing at the starting level to learn HDLs in
general. The thing that could more complicate the process is the
non-availability of Open source EDA tools that could process HDL
languages ( One of our targets in Open source Solutions is to develop
REAL Open EDA tools which needs Software engineers with EE background ).
        There are many free as u stated but Most of them are unreliable. More
over, It distracts the learner as it needs a very tough effort to
understand the tool it self and how to train your self to use it
correctly and make the proper settings for it. Hence, You might find
your self trying to understand the puzzles of the EDA tool rather than
learning the HDL language itself. 
        Don't worry so much, We have all faced the same and We are still
encountering many problems especially when you are involved in an open
source design. It needs a reliable open source tool too. Some times the
designers are forced to use cracked tools to come with a design out.
Now, I'd like to point you to a very good starting point. We need to
digest the basics of the VHDL or verilog. 
        Then what about downloading a free evaluation version from a reliable
EDA vendor like Mentor Graphics or Aldec. You can download an evaluation
version from the software for free for 30 days ( enough time to try and
practice basics ) which could be extended by re-downloading the tool
from another machine and so on ... So i recommend for VHDL that u
download the eval version of ModelSim (mentor-graphics)
        (http://www.model.com/products/release.asp_
You could also download an evaluation version for 20 days from Aldec . a
product called Active-HDL (http://www.aldec.com/ActiveHDL/) 
This is a nice start for tools ... You can always extend your time by
re-downloading the software from another machine and so on ... 
        **When it comes to the 2nd part of the query which is the HDL language
itself You can find tons of on line tutorials about both VHDL and
Verilog. When I start  learning VHDL I went through this one
(http://www.vhdl-online.de/~vhdl/) and you can find on the following
link  a package of some VHDL useful stuff : books, on-line tutorials
..(http://www.cs.ucr.edu/content/esd/labs/tutorial/VHDL_Page.html) .
        Here is also a very useful link with some cool stuff that addresses on
line tutorials for Verilog and VHDL and relevant books to HDls and
digital design (http://www.public.asu.edu/~pvsampa/vlsi.htm) 
I think the on line tutorial from ALdec is good one That i want to try
when i start learning verilog. (we can start together, Company in
learning is very important and usually ends with fruitful results..:-)
There are also some available free e-books right there within the links
provided above. One of the best from charged books are ( K.C.Chang Books
) 
**Digital Design and Modeling with VHDL and Synthesis by K. C. Chang
{Basics of VHDL modeling and coding styles)
**Digital Systems Design with VHDL and Synthesis by K.C. Chang
(AN integrated approach which means Coding, Verification and synthesis )
Also there is ( The designers Guide to VHDL by Peter Ashenden).

Returning back to the free open source tools. I suggest that when you
are a good level that you can start learning to use an open source tool
(which is hard ) like ( ALliance )  http://asim.lip6.fr/alliance.html
it is a complete set of free CAD to compile, simulate and synthesize a
design. It has also a good mailing list that I had just registered to
it. 
        I hope this might be helpful for you. Please let me know if
you have any further queries. 

Best Regards,

        Mohamed A Salem 
        

-- 
Mohamed A Salem
Handasa Arabia Organization 
www.handasarabia.org



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