Session number 2. We will be covering chapters 1 and 2 out of  http://www.amazon.com/SCJP-Certified-Programmer-Java-310-065/dp/0071591060.

Mostly carrying over from last week.

Agenda

1. Install/Run Xilinx ISE (http://www.xilinx.com/support/download/index.html/content/xilinx/en/downloadNav/design-tools.html – ISE Design Suite)
2. Compile and upload blinky lights bit file
3. Modify blinky lights code to change rate of blink
4. Use DCM instead of divider to vary blink rate

Required Items

1. Xilinx based Spartan 3 or higher FPGA
2. Laptop running Windows or Linux (OSX will not work!)
3. Breadboard and LEDs if your FPGA board does not have LEDs
4. Laptop must have ~ 30GB of free disk space for Xilinx ISE

Because of the cost of FPGA dev boards, we will not have extras. If you have questions about what board to get, please E-Mail fpga@unallocatedspace.org.

Since the space runs off of donations, we would like to mention that the recommended donation for this class is $10. It is by no means a requirement! Attendance to the space, and this class, is 100% free to all!

This will be the first installment of the FPGA classes. The only hardware requirement is that you have a Xilinx based Spartan 3 or greater (Virtex is okay as well). Spartan 2 will not be used because it requires a very old version of the Xilinx ISE.

Agenda:

1. Introductions
2. Configure Xilinx ISE web kit software
3. Comparison of FPGA and traditional microcontrollers
4. Explanation of UCF files
5. Uploading a “Hello World” program (code is provided)
6. Explain how the hello world program works
7. Modify the hello world program to blink at a different rate

Required Items:

1. Xilinx based Spartan 3 or higher FPGA (Virtex works as well)
2. Laptop running Windows or Linux (OSX will not work!)
3. Breadboard and LEDs if your FPGA board does not have LEDs
4. Laptop must have ~ 30GB of free disk space for Xilinx ISE

Because of the cost of FPGA dev boards, we will not have extras. If you have questions about what board to get, please E-Mail fpga@unallocatedspace.org.

Please download the Xilinx ISE web kit from http://www.xilinx.com/support/download/index.htm. The section you will want to download from is “Vivado Design Suite – 2013.1 Full Product Installation” We will work out the licensing in class.

Since the space runs off of donations, we would like to mention that the recommended donation for this class is $10. It is by no means a requirement! Attendance to the space, and this class, is 100% free to all!

We will be meeting to study up for the SCJP exam (Java 6).  We are using http://www.amazon.com/SCJP-Certified-Programmer-Java-310-065/dp/0071591060 as our study guide.  Feel free to join us!

Arduino night has come a long way over the last few months. Far enough that it’s becoming difficult for new people to join in on the festivities. That means that it’s time to start everything over again

Agenda:

1. Get everyone set up with the Arduino IDE
2. What is an Arduino
3. Upload “Hello World” program (using Serial)
4. Blink an LED
5. Fade an LED

Required Items:

1. Laptop
2. Arduino (Mega, Duemilanove, Due, Boarduino, or UNO)
3. USB cable for your Arduino
4. Breadboard (small or large)
5. Jumper wires

If you need any items in the required items section, please E-Mail uas.arduino@gmail.com. We have a few of all of the required items, but we need to know how many to prepare.
Since the space runs off of donations, we would like to mention that the recommended donation for this class is $10. It is by no means a requirement! Attendance to the space, and this class, is 100% free to all!

This will be the last Arduino night before the classes start over again.

Agenda:

1. Binary serial comms
2. Serial.event() usage
3. Answer random questions

Required Items:

1. Laptop
2. Arduino w/ USB cable
3. PySerial installed if you want to use Python to talk to the Arduino

If you need any items in the required items section, please E-Mail uas.arduino@gmail.com. We have a few of all of the required items, but we need to know how many to prepare.
Since the space runs off of donations, we would like to mention that the recommended donation for this class is $5. It is by no means a requirement! Attendance to the space, and this class, is 100% free to all!