Re: [myhdl-list] Conference Plans: Perspective, Flyer, Sign, Classroom classes, Python Classes, Success Stories, Hardware Demo

[Christopher F. <chr...@gm...>]

I was probably the last person in the world that should have attempt to 
generate a poster, but I did.  If you think it is usable feel free to 
use it.

If anyone has suggestions I can try and incorporate them or send the 
source.  We could create a wiki page for camp prep :)

Chris Felton

On 4/1/11 11:07 AM, Christopher Lozinski wrote:
>         I have been reading the myhdl.org website.  It is superbly done.
> Very carefully written.  Looks great.  It is not even his native
> language, but I could not tell.  It makes me expect the software will be
> as carefully done.   It looks like a labor of love.
>
>        My perspective on this is that it is an obvious way to rapidly
> design and thoroughly test new hardware designs. But somehow the rest of
> the world does not see it this way.  It needs some marketing push.
>
>        I think the most important thing for the trade show is the flyer.
> Let everyone get a page of material to take home, they can read it
> later, download the software, and read the website.  There is great
> content on
> http://myhdl.org/doku.php/start
>
> and
> http://myhdl.org/doku.php/why
>
> The next most important thing is a sign.  I think it is easy to print up
> a big black and white sign across multiple sheets of paper
>
> MyHDL = Python ->  FPGA
>
> Then I can scotch tape them together, and put them up on the wall.
>
>       But it is always good to make money off things.  It means it is
> alive.  What do people need to get started.  Well the best thing would
> be a class.  Go to the show, get a flyer, go home read it look at the
> web site, go sign up for a class.  I read that some of these design
> tools cost $100,000 for 1 seat for a year.  Amazing.  Surely they could
> spring $1,000 for a class.  Does anyone want to teach a class in this
> stuff.  We could say 5 student minimum.
>
>      As for python classes, I am glad to see there is now a data
> structure class.  That is a step in the right direction. There was
> recently a discussion on floating point classes.  The hardware engineers
> said it is too inefficient, just define the range for your application.
> The software engineers like myself, say just give us the floating point
> classes.  I do not know the ranges.   Some of the FPGA devices have
> floating point multipliers.   How do I talk to them?  By writing my own
> class.  Ridiculous.  Give me the class please.
>
>      A rich class library is a sign of a mature python library.  They
> talk about ip cores in this industry.  Yes I would like python designs
> for ethernet interface, usb interface, etc.  And certainly for floating
> point, and for a whole bunch of other stuff.
>
>      Thank you for the offer of the hardware demo.  I have not sent
> Christopher Felton my mailing address.  I think that demo targets the
> wrong market.  It uses a FPGA to generate some sounds.  I think it
> targets the hobbyist market.  The money is in the major corporations.
> What they want to do is minimize their risk.  They want to see large
> complex designs that have been produced with this tool suite.  They want
> us to argue that python allows for complex test suites, further reducing
> their risks.
>
>      So does anyone have some complex designs, preferably that went to
> silicon that we can show and simulate?  Is anyone interested in offering
> a MyHDL class?
>