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Webmaster Book Store > Webmaster books beginning with V
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VHDL : Programming By Example |
Author: Douglas Perry
Published: 2002-05-12 |
List price: $75.00
Our price: $54.00
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As of: January 06th, 2009 03:46:44 AM
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Customer comments on this selection.
 Good basic coverage, but BEWARE of poor editing!
(This review is based on the hardcover Fourth Edition)
Being somewhat of a newcomer to VHDL (I've had some prior exposure to it as a grad student), I found the text to be a good breadth-first coverage to get acquainted with the layout and basic syntax of VHDL source. However, it is extremely frustrating and confusing to run into so many errors. Being so inexperienced, I found myself wondering if something is truly a mistake or whether I'm just "not getting it". Looking at the source code on the included CD makes it clear though: This book was basically NOT edited! The example code on CD is mostly out of sync with the book, and although the CD code is more correct, it is difficult to understand because it doesn't sync well with the examples in the text [the signal names are different, the entities are labeled differently, etc].
It would be a much better text if an editor actually put some effort into the 5th edition, or at the very least, an Errata document was published on the web.
 Paints the Key Points of the Language with a Broad Brush
Like so many of the books on the market, this builds up through a series of examples a simple RISC processor in VHDL. One of the key things to keep in mind, is that this approach may not prepare the user for some other types of VHDL tasks, and so other texts may be needed as well. For example signal processing concepts for VHDL are not covered, nor are Ethernet MAC concepts, or a host of other complex area's found in today's technologies. It does a reasonable job of covering the features of VHDL in a fashion such that one can implement a RISC processor or similar device. Many of the tool's presented in the book are getting a bit dated, now, and one may be able to download web-pack type software for free that does a better job with the examples. Realistically to get fully equipped for most types of design expect to need a range of books that cover the different area's that the Language has been adapted to.
too many bugs/typos, but explains basic ideas
Perry's 4th edition seems a little hastily put out on the market. Many inconsistencies between the text and the contents of the enclosed CD. But if you are willing to tolerate this, then the book is actually ok. It teaches VHDL with many examples of source code. You should be able to ascertain that VHDL is a pretty simple language. From a theoretical computing viewpoint, there is nothing too abstruse in VHDL.
What you do have to be careful about is if you actually want to use the example code that's either in the text or on the CD. Here, you should go carefully through it, because of possible bugs. Which does afford the advantage that it forces you to understand the code. An inadvertant pedagogic property of the book!
 Editor and proof reader on indefinte leave
I downloaded and started reading this book and it's full of errors. The text refers to lines of code that don't exist in the example. There are lines left out of the code. References are made to names of entities etc that do not exist. This makes it extremely hard for some one not fluent with the VHDL language to know what was meant. Obviously as the preface indicated the examples have been updated and the text only half updated. I am up to Page 9 and at least 12 unconnected references is making this hard work.
Has the publisher put up an early draft for download or is this for real? This is based on the Fourth Edition Downloadable Version.
Competent enough
As another software deveoper coming to VHDL, I was reasonably satisfied with this book. It gives a strong description of the basic language features, including the ones usually skipped in intro texts. It skips the baby steps of logic design, and shows examples of most language constructs, including overloading.I never thought I'd say it, but this VHDL book is actually a bit weak on the hardware side. It's description of processes and events seems incomplete, and the discussion of timing-related features is scant. The description of synthesis is too brief to cover many of the common variations you'll come across. If you have scars from a few optimizing compilers, though, you'll be able to pick up what you need from your tools, co-workers, and experience. Place-and-route is worth understanding. Taking real control of it, though, is usually something done cautiously and within the context of specific tools and chip characteristics. A few chapters of the book focus on specific tools - naturally, not the ones I use. I found those missable. On the whole, I find this book helpful. Perhaps other books are better, but lots of books are lots worse.
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