On Mon, 20 Jun 2016, Ian Finder wrote: > The hardest part of the process is distilling the functional > specification of the part you are trying to replace. This is the heart > of the topic.
Hmm, okay so that's pretty much what I expected. They start with what that particular chip or ROM etc.. _does_ then they re-implement as a process of discovery. Does that sound accurate? > There is no one approach, it is more art than science. That's also what I expected. I guess as I was reading through other material, I got the impression that it might be more deterministic, but my gut feeling was right, I think. Nothing is ever *that* easy. > For going from a functional specification to a synthesizable model, this > is simply writing HDL. I suggest this book, which covers the basics of > this process. > https://www.amazon.com/Verilog-Digital-System-Design-Verification/dp/0071445641 Whoa. That's a pricey sucker. I'm probably not going to be able to make use of Verilog for a little bit yet. I'm still designing all my little "homework assignment" type projects on paper or using a tool I found in pkgsrc called "The Eagle Layout Editor." It's got some nice features (at least for me so far). I'll probably go with the Wirth book since it's a bit cheaper, but I still appreciate your suggestion. > If you have no 100-level understanding of digital logic, start here: > https://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Logic-Design-Randy-Katz/dp/0201308576 I have about a 100-level understanding, now. I took a digital logic class in college and I still have my book. It's "Fundamentals of Digital Design" I believe (or something very close to that). It was a while back, though. I understand boolean logic, changing base for numbering systems, etc.. However, I have a breathtaking lack of experience in applying that stuff to "real" digital logic. I'm just using online tutorials and guides for the moment, but the main one I focus on is this one: http://www.learningelectronics.net/vol_4/index.html So far, it's been great. I'm just finishing up some of the analog stuff on that same site, and I've greedily skipped ahead a bit to digital. However, I'm just now getting to TTLs and gates. I have to actually write out examples or test things physically to really "get it". However, I'm just plodding along. I have a nice little mess happening on my workbench in the garage. I'm about to move on past just using simple capacitors, resistors, and diodes to using some ICs. It's a little intimidating, actually. I thought I could get to the point I'm at now in about two weeks. It actually took about five or six weeks (just for an analog refresher). I'm still a bit shaky on some of that stuff, too. It's hard to test/see everything. So, some things I just read about, shrug, and keep going. -Swift
