• Treczoks@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    That I could fix Windows PCs. Nope. When my work PC has issues, I call IT. I design computer chips.

    • choss@lemmy.ml
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      4 months ago

      Hey! Can I ask you about that? What type of chips? What are your most used skills/technologies and what helped get started when you were new? I want to work with fpgas, and I’d love to know what your experience with that has been like

      • Treczoks@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        I started with programming about anything that is programmable and not up on a tree at the count of three. I did industrial control units, and I worked on a Cray X-MP, and about anything between. I wrote computer games, compilers, an OS, database engines, and loads of applications. I’ve probably forgotten more programming languages than todays students have heard of. One day I ended up in embedded systems.

        As our company had only one FPGA developer, I got sent on a three day course to learn VHDL from the source (Eugen Krassin, one of the original key developers of ISE). Right after that, I started developing FPGA firmware for our company. Luckily, I had some hardware experience from my work on the C64 and earlier, so I had a good understanding of clocks and signals. I know that even seasoned programmers really hit a wall when entering the world of HDLs.

        I started with ISE back then on Spartan S3 and S6, then Xilinx f-ed us up so hard that the boss slammed the phone down after the last call with those guys and told me to find a more reliable company STAT. We now use Efinix FPGAs which has the big advantage that people there actually listen and help when I ask a question.

        My field is isosynchronous low-latency networks for audio applications.

        • choss@lemmy.ml
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          4 months ago

          Woah, you’re on OG! I’m unfamiliar with a lot of those things and had to look them up. Crazy!

          Hah! ISE - I used that for a hot second, and you still see tutorials using it as well.

          My goodness, tell me about it, I’m new and I already find myself frustrated with Xilinx sometimes. It feels like there are very few resources from them for learning, but I thought that was just because it’s a niche subject. I’ll have to take a look at Efinix. I guess I thought it was safer to stick to the biggest name while I’m trying to get established. At the moment I’m trying to get some example projects working on a Zybo Z7. I’m finding out that it’s a lot to take in

          Thanks for taking the time to reply! I feel strangely honored to hear from such an OG :) Cheers!