30 Dec
2025
30 Dec
'25
7:33 p.m.
sudo friends -
In my recent visits to sudoroom, I've talked about and demonstrated FPGAs
(among other things). I personally consider FPGAs to be an enabling
technology, like microcontrollers but with some key advantages.
They also have a reputation of being hard to learn.
There seems to be at least some interest in turning these chaotic discussions
into activities thoughtfully set up for teaching/learning. Maybe the
word "class" won't apply.
I'll keep this first message short, although I certainly have ideas,
at least about how to get started. I'm a huge believer in learning by doing.
I plan to be at sudoroom tonight (Dec 30), and we can have in-person discussions.
Maybe this thread can capture ideas in a less ephemeral form.
- Larry
31 Dec
31 Dec
11:29 a.m.
New subject: [External Email] learning about FPGAs
Hi Larry,
Thank you for the chance to learn more about FPGAs. It is an entirely new area for me.
I came across this article comparing them to microcontrollers:
https://www.pcbasic.com/blog/fpga_vs_microcontroller.html.
My "librarian instincts" kicked in regarding the source, so I can't fully
vouch for the author's expertise, but I found the comparison helpful for a high-level
overview.
For context on my background, I usually work with simpler tools to get students started,
so I’m much more proficient with Micro:bits than Arduinos.
Looking forward to bridging that gap, mostly by osmosis, as I hang out at sudo.
~Ivan
________________________________
From: Larry Doolittle via sudo-discuss <sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2025 19:33
To: sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org <sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org>
Subject: [External Email] [sudo-discuss] learning about FPGAs
sudo friends -
In my recent visits to sudoroom, I've talked about and demonstrated FPGAs
(among other things). I personally consider FPGAs to be an enabling
technology, like microcontrollers but with some key advantages.
They also have a reputation of being hard to learn.
There seems to be at least some interest in turning these chaotic discussions
into activities thoughtfully set up for teaching/learning. Maybe the
word "class" won't apply.
I'll keep this first message short, although I certainly have ideas,
at least about how to get started. I'm a huge believer in learning by doing.
I plan to be at sudoroom tonight (Dec 30), and we can have in-person discussions.
Maybe this thread can capture ideas in a less ephemeral form.
- Larry
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To unsubscribe send an email to sudo-discuss-leave(a)sudoroom.org
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6:35 p.m.
New subject: [External Email] learning about FPGAs
Thanks Larry!
My only experience with FPGA is as a player of video games on a very
beautiful device that uses different cores to play old Gameboy and other
systems' cartridges.
https://www.analogue.co/developer I barely know how to download new cores
onto my Analogue Pocket and can bring it to some Tuesday soon to show you,
if you're interestsed.
Therefore I am excited to learn more and get hands-on, not just as a
consumer of a commercial device, but as a creator, or hacker, or maker, or
tinkerer, or curious student, or whatever we are. Please count me in!
Maybe if we really get into it, Sudo Room could apply for a "Analogue
Developer Kit" lol
Ivan: you wanna also teach a different workshop using Micro:bits? =)))
~judy
On Wed, Dec 31, 2025 at 11:30 Ivan Silva via sudo-discuss <
sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org> wrote:
Hi Larry,
Thank you for the chance to learn more about FPGAs. It is an entirely new
area for me.
I came across this article comparing them to microcontrollers:
https://www.pcbasic.com/blog/fpga_vs_microcontroller.html.
My "librarian instincts" kicked in regarding the source, so I can't fully
vouch for the author's expertise, but I found the comparison helpful for a
high-level overview.
For context on my background, I usually work with simpler tools to get
students started, so I’m much more proficient with Micro:bits than Arduinos.
Looking forward to bridging that gap, mostly by osmosis, as I hang out at
sudo.
*~Ivan*
------------------------------
*From:* Larry Doolittle via sudo-discuss <sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org>
*Sent:* Tuesday, December 30, 2025 19:33
*To:* sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org <sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org>
*Subject:* [External Email] [sudo-discuss] learning about FPGAs
sudo friends -
In my recent visits to sudoroom, I've talked about and demonstrated FPGAs
(among other things). I personally consider FPGAs to be an enabling
technology, like microcontrollers but with some key advantages.
They also have a reputation of being hard to learn.
There seems to be at least some interest in turning these chaotic
discussions
into activities thoughtfully set up for teaching/learning. Maybe the
word "class" won't apply.
I'll keep this first message short, although I certainly have ideas,
at least about how to get started. I'm a huge believer in learning by
doing.
I plan to be at sudoroom tonight (Dec 30), and we can have in-person
discussions.
Maybe this thread can capture ideas in a less ephemeral form.
- Larry
_______________________________________________
sudo-discuss mailing list -- sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org
To unsubscribe send an email to sudo-discuss-leave(a)sudoroom.org
More options at
https://sudoroom.org/lists/postorius/lists/sudo-discuss.sudoroom.org/
_______________________________________________
sudo-discuss mailing list -- sudo-discuss(a)sudoroom.org
To unsubscribe send an email to sudo-discuss-leave(a)sudoroom.org
More options at
https://sudoroom.org/lists/postorius/lists/sudo-discuss.sudoroom.org/
1
days inactive
2
days old
2 comments
3 participants
participants (3)
-
Ivan Silva -
Judy Tuan -
Larry Doolittle