I’ve started getting into using FPGAs. They’re really cool because when you use them you’re essentially creating hardware by typing. When you code in a hardware description language like VHDL or Verilog, you’re not writing code that a microcontroller or other processor will execute, you’re actually coding the processor itself, the actual layout of logic gates and connections between them. I had seen an example of driving an VGA monitor with an FPGA to show a pattern on the screen. I decided to see if I could do the same with a Macintosh Classic CRT and maybe push it further.
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
