Linux is fully supported on all tools from Xilinx (and I'm sure altera).
Vivado is an amazing tool, and has a very intuitive UI, with great design visualizations and cross-pobing, ip-integrator, etc (ISE was replaced by it years ago, it more fits the VB6 style you referred to)
There are advanced tools like SDK for embedded SW development, HLS for auto C to RTL convrsion, and SDx for automatic HW/SW offload (SDx basically drives Vivado, HLS and SDK under the hood). The FPGA world has moved past the ASIC design world in terms of tool usability, and I speak from the experience of using both toolsets almost daily.
Take a look at the latest offerings, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised
Linux is fully supported on all tools from Xilinx (and I'm sure altera). Vivado is an amazing tool, and has a very intuitive UI, with great design visualizations and cross-pobing, ip-integrator, etc (ISE was replaced by it years ago, it more fits the VB6 style you referred to)
There are advanced tools like SDK for embedded SW development, HLS for auto C to RTL convrsion, and SDx for automatic HW/SW offload (SDx basically drives Vivado, HLS and SDK under the hood). The FPGA world has moved past the ASIC design world in terms of tool usability, and I speak from the experience of using both toolsets almost daily.
Take a look at the latest offerings, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised