Are FPGA's getting too complex?

Hi Joe:

Just to add to Tricky's answer, Although the performance and capabilities of processors are increasing, there will always be a need for real time

operations that are outside the capabilities of processors.

FPGA's still have a place, I think a larger place with the advent of the SOC FPGA's. It's it a one chip fit all? Not yet, but it's fitting more and more designs.

Is the expertise required more than it use to be, YES, but so are the capabilities. Once you get use to timequest, it's a powerful tool. It's also more of an industry standard. So if you have designs going to ASIC's, the SDC file more directly translate into the timing tools required for the ASIC flow, so I HIGHLY recommend you take the time to learn it, vs sticking with 9.1. With everything in this industry, change is occurring quickly.

If you don't keep up with the tools, and capabilities, you quickly get obsoleted. I remember it taking 3 days to compile a design that can now be synthesized in a hour or so.

Pete