Further experiences teaching an FPGA-based embedded systems class

Abstract

I describe thirteen years of teaching an embedded systems class at Columbia University that spans three “board eras.” Students now develop Linux systems with custom FPGA-based peripherals. The soaring complexity of these systems has enabled more ambitious projects at the expense of making it impossible for students to learn “everything” about what they are developing. As such, should students be learning similar skills or specializing in hardware or software?.