FPGA-ASIC-Resources

A list of resources for learning about FPGAs and ASICs. Hardware can be bit pricier than microcontrollers and Raspberry Pis, so start with fundamentals and use hobby/learning boards and open source tooling

FPGAs: Field Programmable Gate Arrays

Foundations and Programming Practice

• Digital Design and Computer Architecture - Harris & Harris (le bible)
  • Video Edition on YouTube
• Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach - Patterson & Hennessy
• Nandland.com - free, excellent beginner VHDL/Verilog tutorials
• HDLBits - interactive Verilog exercises (basically LeetCode for FPGA)
• SystemVerilog for Design - Sutherland
• Doulos SystemVerilog Golden Reference Guide
• The Complete Guide to Preparing for a High-Frequency Trading FPGA Developer Interview
• Design Recipes for FPGAs Using VHDL and Verilog - Wilson

Hardware & Design Tools

• Arty A7-100T: Artix-7 FPGA Development Board
• Xilinx Vivado (free lite version)
• Quartus Prime (free lite version)

Concepts to Focus on

Introductory

• Boolean algebra, combinational vs sequential logic
• Flip-flops, registers, finite state machines (FSMs)
• Clock domains, metastability, synchronization
• Timing analysis: setup/hold times, critical paths

HDL Programming in SystemVerilog

• RTL design: always blocks, assign statements, modules, ports
• Parameterized modules, generate statements
• Simulation and testbenches
• Synthesis vs simulation semantics (very important distinction)
• Interfaces and packages in SystemVerilog
• Using Xilinx Vivado and Quartus Prime

ASICs: Application Specific Integrated Circuits

• LibreLane
  • SkyWater 130nm PDK
  • Yosys
  • OpenROAD

(This file is still under construction. Stay tuned for more resources.)