Until the day that hardware can design itself, humans will have got use hardware-description languages. So, which one should you use?
Point
Compiling software to gates by Ian Page Are VHDL and Verilog past their prime, soon to be replaced by C-like design languages such as System C, Handel-C, and others? Professor Ian Page thinks a change is at hand.
Counterpoint
Back to the language roots by James L. Lee It's not time for the revolution yet. Traditional hardware-description languages have specific features that make them superior to software programming languages; although SystemC has its place in the hardware-design process, it still can't compete with Verilog and VHDL.
Generate stepper-motor speed profiles in real time by David Austin A new algorithm for stepper-motor acceleration allows speed profiles to be parameterized and calculated in real time. This algorithm can run on a low-end microcontroller using only simple fixed-point arithmetic operations and no data tables. It develops an accurate approximation for the timing of a linear ramp with constant acceleration and deceleration.
Managing Tasks on x86 Processors by Jim Turley Intel's x86 microprocessors can automatically manage tasks just like a simple operating system. There are many tricks and pitfalls, however, but with the right approach the programmer can get great performance at zero cost.
Programming Pointers More ways to map memory by Dan Saks The most elegant and pleasing notation might not be the most efficient one.
Break Points Disaster Redux! by Jack G. Ganssle No one wants a pacemaker, but if you had one, wouldn't you want it to be reliable? Jack shares more horror stories and lessons.
#include Happy New Year! by Jim Turley The new year brings some new features to Embedded Systems Programming magazine, including a greater focus on the FPGA and programmable logic. Jim introduces his plans for 2005.
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