I thought that this course was an absolutely wonderful introduction to the world of FPGA design. I liked learning about the different features of some of of the more popular FPGA families. I really enjoyed the task of building a soft processor using the Altera Qsys software. I found that the homework was reasonable in scope and relevant to the topics presented in the lectures. I would like to learn more and I would like to suggest a series of classes like this one that also include HDL languages and verification concepts.

This class has deep problems. The first is that the transcription is not where it needs to be, and the resolution of the videos does not compensate for the problem. Filenames are often very important and need to be exact. Yet the transcription often makes mistakes with the filenames and variables. This is where the lack of Youtube resolution comes into play. I can't read individual file and variable names, The result is a lot of guesswork. This could be overcome with high resolution scans of the RTL level diagrams provided the scans were of high enough resolution to read the file and vairable names. Further the class runs on an old version of Quartus Prime, 16.1 while the current version of Quartus is 20.1 (as of this writing). Quartus constantly asks for updates, but those updates often rbeak functionality and make the lessons undoable. This class should be revised to the current version of Quartus Prime. Elements of the class that are survey-like, such as reviews of various FPGA technologies, products, and manuifacturers are good. The information is solid and addresses technical issues I had for my projects. Likewise the introduction to digital logic was well done. It started at a graduate level, which was what I expected and desired. High marks for that.

Good to get to know the quartus prime software and get started into fpga design.

After completing this course, Quartus prime feel way less aliens, I think I have a solid grasp as to what I need to look for to continue my fpga journey and VHDL seem way easier.

(You don't learn to make VHDL or Verilog code in this course)

Critic :

the voice isn't always synced with the video

there a a few error in the quiz question

Some part could be introduced in a better way (time analysis definition could use some animation)

Was intended to be a 4 course series, I'm not sure if they will continues

Received minimal support for issues that came up during the course. I think the instructors need to be active in resolving issues that may come up during installation and execution.

For university students in the field of Engineering the course is quite basic, but it is good for having a small introduction on FPGA design, issues, and market.

The main concern is the price (too high, for me it is worth 20$ or something around), and the fact that in the course they don't explain the background of some steps that they do in the Software (it is simply "Select this", "Click this", etc.)

no professor answering my any questions

Its just "blindly follow what the instrutctor tells you" kind of a course. I've been frustrated at the way things were approached at. Without sharing the MOTIVATION of doing something, how can you expect students to develop interest in minute details?

Sure, you learn something along the way (like some tools and how to operate an INTEL software) because you have to complete the assigments. But that is not enjoyable at all.

I have a strong background and experience in digital electronics and microcontrollers. Still I couldn't follow many of the things in this course because it was so hapazard.

The interesting and important topics such as "timing constraints problem" was not explained at all in details. There are some diagrams and the instructor is like a computer generated voice narrating the slides. Look at some lectures by professors such as gregory plett from colorado boulder - learn from them how to teach a new concept.

Hands-on is useless without the theoretical and intellectual journey that lead us to it.

I didn't like this course. Most of the course I was supposed to copy operations which were done by the instructor in the video.Because I didn't understand overal goal of the operations, I took me super long to do. For most of the thime I didn't understand most of instructor's goals and reasons. This way I didn't learn anything except how to install the application. As a teacher myself I would not recommend this course to anyone who doesn't know the material already.

This course is just weird, too much content crammed into "powerpoint" style of modern education. Buy a book, watch youtube fpga content lecture videos, join a university class,...

Boring, feels like a very very bad walkthrough video. doesn't even tell you the big picture or what you're about to do. Instead just gives you straight up steps with no thought.

Software cannot be downloaded

The subject for each session is selected carefully and the gradual heaviness of the discussions is very well organized, so that student feels comfortable to move on.

Flawless presentation (thank you Tim!) and step by step manner of the discussions are the reasons I could keep up with the course eagerly.

I look forward to take the rest of the courses of this specialization.

Thanks Coursera!

The "Introduction to FPGA Design for Embedded Systems" course surpassed my expectations. It offered a well-structured curriculum, practical exercises, and exceptional instructor support. The hands-on approach and up-to-date content made it a valuable learning experience. The course community fostered collaboration and knowledge sharing. Highly recommended!

Great course! Enthusiastic instructor who gives you what you need to get started step-by-step. You can learn so much on your own once you have a board, a tool and a detailed walkthrough.

The section comparing the different families of FPGAs was a good summary of what's out there and their basic differences.

I can't wait for the HDL follow up class.

I was actually pleasantly surprised... I am a chip designer and embedded systems software developer... this class gave us the basics and was a survey of FPGA design methodologies and FPGA architecture. While certainly not as comprehensive as a college course, I'd say it was 30% of the knowledge for 20% of the time at 3% of the cost.

Pretty challenging course, but very helpful if you are parallel starting with real design or have to work with some ready design. I also very appreciate an overview of different FPGA and CPLD platforms, selection criteria of them.

So I am waiting for anounced next course, about Verilog and VHDL. It is exactly what i need right now.

The course offers a great deal of in depth knowledge about FPGA. It also makes you familiar with the use of Quartus Prime Software. A big thank you to the professor because the course content is really specific and insightful. All in all a good course for a fresher to understand the depth of Programmable Logic Devices.

Good course, understanding of logic gates, adders, and Microcontroller architecture needed. This is the only online FPGA MOOC, so well done to Boulder for branching out. It would be nice to see the full specialisation available.

This was a great course, especially for someone who has never studied anything about FPGAs before. Timothy is an excellent lecturer whose practical experience in the industry comes through.

I do not recommend for busy working personal. I have to admit I have time problem spent the extra hours to search for external knowledge to complete some of the assignment which wasn't covered in the course. For example, knowledge of how to simplify a 4 bit adder require some level of k-map simplification know how, which forced me to spent the extra hours to google and learn. I originally purchase the cert because it was needed in some of the companies new project. After looking at the time pressure and deadline of the course, I decided to spent time study FPGA at intel youtube and post question at their technical support forum to get my job done.

Not a course to learn a great deal about FPGA's. Seems like an elaborated explanation of a reference manual to use the Quartus Prime software.

Overall, a pretty shallow overview of the topic. Project files are several years old, using old versions of the software that are often unavailable. The vast majority of lectures are just following along clicking the same things in the GUI as the instructor, with little explanation of the theory or methodology that led to making these decisions. Assignments are just submitting screenshots of the results (did you follow the clicking correctly), and quizzes often include details never mentioned in the lecture. Solutions and uploaded files from the course were often just unavailable. Looking back, I'd say this course is due for retirement and an overhaul for 2023 and beyond.

It is the worst course that I could enroll in coursera. The zip files to use before start with the video are not in proper state. I am not getting the expected results evenafter following all the instructions repeatedly. I am wasting all my time and unable to move on It is really frustrating course. Will Coursera compensate the money or time for this course

Missing files for week 2.

Very outdated. Software environment is 7 years old.

Altera Max10s aren't even on the market anymore.

waste