FPGA's are quite easy to program, it is fully software driven right now.
There are some programs that you enter the algoritm and it just give you the
programming file.  Remember the old PLD's ?  Basically it is the same,
with some more details. :)
Wagner.

Marc wrote:

> > You can also use a fpga logically programmed to convert 8 bits (the high
> > order counter byte) into a 5x6 matrix... or 3x10... or something else, and
> > never needing to use a microcontroller, oscillator, nothing else.
>
> And yes, if you're really keen on making it complicated, you can program the F
PGA
> to implement a 4 bit microcontroller core with a small program to solve the
> problem in "software"..  No need for micros then :-----)