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How do you manage your FPGA code and projects?

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FPGA programming is a powerful and versatile skill for electrical engineers, but it also comes with some challenges in managing code and projects. How do you keep your FPGA code organized, reusable, and scalable? How do you collaborate with other developers and track changes? How do you test and debug your FPGA designs efficiently? In this article, we will share some tips and best practices for FPGA code and project management, based on our experience and industry standards.

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Pedram Kermani

Technical Lead | FPGA Specialist | Technical Project Manager

1 Choose a code style and stick to it

One of the first steps to manage your FPGA code is to adopt a consistent and clear code style. This will help you and others to read, understand, and modify your code easily. Code style includes aspects such as naming conventions, indentation, comments, and documentation. You can follow existing code style guidelines, such as the VHDL Style Guide or the Verilog Coding Style, or create your own based on your preferences and needs. The important thing is to be consistent and follow the same code style throughout your project.

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Pedram Kermani

Technical Lead | FPGA Specialist | Technical Project Manager
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Adopting a structured VHDL design method is crucial for efficient FPGA development. The advice on choosing a code style and sticking to it resonates strongly with the best practices. Consistency is key in fostering code readability, maintainability, and collaboration. Whether you opt for established guidelines like the VHDL Style Guide or craft your own, the primary objective is to have a uniform style across your project. This ensures that both you and your team can seamlessly navigate through the codebase, facilitating quicker understanding and modifications.

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Muhammad Maaz

PEC Registered Electrical Engineer | Major in Computer Engineering |
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Adopting a consistent coding style in FPGA development is crucial for maintainability and collaboration. It's akin to setting the 'grammar rules' for your code, ensuring that anyone who reads it can follow the 'story' you're telling. This is especially important in FPGA projects where multiple engineers may work on the same codebase, or when handing off projects to new team members. Consistency in naming conventions, indentation, and commenting can significantly reduce the cognitive load when interpreting complex digital logic designs.

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2 Use a version control system

A version control system (VCS) is a tool that helps you track and manage changes to your code over time. It allows you to save snapshots of your code, compare different versions, revert to previous states, and merge changes from different sources. A VCS is essential for FPGA code management, especially if you work in a team or on multiple projects. There are many VCS options available, such as Git, Subversion, or Mercurial, but they all have similar features and benefits. You can use a VCS with a graphical user interface (GUI), such as GitHub Desktop or Sourcetree, or with a command-line interface (CLI), such as Git Bash or Terminal.

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Pedram Kermani

Technical Lead | FPGA Specialist | Technical Project Manager
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Thrilled to highlight how the powerful combo of GitHub and SourceTree has elevated my FPGA development. GitHub's robust version control, turning every commit into a milestone, pairs seamlessly with SourceTree's visually intuitive interface. SourceTree's graphical representation of branches, commits, and changes adds a visual layer to GitHub, making it easier to navigate project evolution, streamline collaboration, and enhance code reviews. This dynamic duo extends the benefits to experimentation, bug tracking, and documentation. GitHub's branching, coupled with SourceTree's visual appeal, creates a risk-free experimentation playground.

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3 Organize your code in modules and libraries

Another way to manage your FPGA code is to structure it in modular and reusable components. This will help you to avoid duplication, reduce complexity, and improve maintainability. You can create modules that perform specific functions, such as arithmetic operations, memory blocks, or communication protocols, and use them in different parts of your project. You can also group related modules in libraries, such as math, logic, or interface libraries, and use them in different projects. You can use a tool such as Quartus Prime or Vivado to create and manage your modules and libraries.

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4 Use a project management tool

A project management tool is a software that helps you plan, execute, and monitor your FPGA projects. It allows you to define your project scope, goals, and deliverables, assign tasks and deadlines, track progress and issues, and communicate with stakeholders. A project management tool can also integrate with your VCS, code editor, and simulation tool, to create a seamless workflow. There are many project management tools available, such as Jira, Trello, or Asana, but they all have similar features and benefits. You can use a project management tool with a web browser, a desktop app, or a mobile app.

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Pedram Kermani

Technical Lead | FPGA Specialist | Technical Project Manager
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In my experience, Jira has proven to be a game-changer, significantly enhancing my FPGA project management. The robust task management capabilities offered by Jira bring unparalleled organization to the intricate details of FPGA development. Whether prioritizing, assigning, or tracking tasks, Jira streamlines the workflow, ensuring a structured approach and on-schedule project delivery. Furthermore, Jira's collaboration features have revolutionized team communication. From issue creation to seamless commenting and @mention functionalities, Jira becomes the central hub for discussions. In the dynamic world of FPGA projects, effective communication is paramount.

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5 Use a simulation tool

A simulation tool is a software that helps you test and debug your FPGA code before deploying it to hardware. It allows you to create testbenches, generate stimuli, and observe outputs, using different levels of abstraction, such as behavioral, structural, or timing. A simulation tool can also help you to verify your code functionality, performance, and compliance, using different methods, such as assertions, coverage, or formal verification. There are many simulation tools available, such as ModelSim, Xilinx ISE, or GHDL, but they all have similar features and benefits. You can use a simulation tool with a graphical user interface (GUI), such as Waveform Viewer or SimVision, or with a command-line interface (CLI), such as Vsim or Ncsim.

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Pedram Kermani

Technical Lead | FPGA Specialist | Technical Project Manager
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In my experience, harnessing the power of ModelSim and TCL scripting has been a game-changer, ensuring a reliable and efficient process for simulating VHDL code in FPGA development. ModelSim's robust simulation capabilities provide a comprehensive environment to validate and verify the functionality of the VHDL code. The integration of TCL scripting further amplifies this efficiency, allowing for the automation of simulation tasks, repetitive tests, and result analysis. This dynamic duo not only expedites the simulation process but also enhances the overall reliability of code validation.

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Alexander Coffman

Engineer & Speaker | Mentoring young professionals to increase productivity and develop professionally | Exploring emerging technology, economic, and policy solutions to the polycrisis
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From my experience studying in my Electrical Engineering Education: Incorporating a simulation tool for FPGA code and project management is highly effective. It allows for pre-implementation testing of the logic and functionality of your FPGA designs. For example, during my coursework in digital system projects, using FPGA simulation tools enabled me to validate complex signal processing algorithms before actual hardware implementation. This not only saved time but also significantly reduced the potential for errors in later stages. Regularly using simulation tools ensures that your FPGA code aligns with project requirements and performs as expected in real-world scenarios.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you manage your FPGA code and projects?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Choose a code style and stick to it

2 Use a version control system

3 Organize your code in modules and libraries

4 Use a project management tool

5 Use a simulation tool

6 Here’s what else to consider

Electrical Engineering

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How do you manage your FPGA code and projects?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Choose a code style and stick to it

2 Use a version control system

3 Organize your code in modules and libraries

4 Use a project management tool

5 Use a simulation tool

6 Here’s what else to consider

Electrical Engineering

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