Thanks for those information Andy.

Here i have few more to know.




a) What i know about programming the FPGA is.,

Developing a Truth table - minimizing it using Karnaugh Map (by either SOP or POS method)- Thus the logic block is obtained.
This logic block is been designed using the software (VHDL) by creating an entity for each gate and assigning ports to it.

Is that what is happenning?

and, could i get some info on using specific tools for designs?
I guess that by saying 'tool' it relates to the type of design i would handle., like mixed signal, digital..etc., Is it so.


b) i would like to use 'Modelsim' to learn FPGA programming.
Is it worth doing it with modelsim though it doesnt have a synthesisng tool (since i couldnt learn placing and routing)?

and, i would also like to know whether there are any evaluation (free) pakages available from any vendors (which are being used intensively) and best to practice on with.


Finally, i would like to know what relevent things i should be proficient with, to claim myself as "an able FPGA programmer (junior level)". For information, i have only Modelsim software with me. No other supporting things. will it be enough for me to to get proficient with FPGA programming?

Thanks for your useful Suggestions!

Suresh.