Presentation
Beyond Scripting: API Based HDL Generation
DescriptionLooking at the block diagram of any modern SoC – whether a standalone device or a chiplet – and you will see that most of the blocks, and die area, consists of generated logic. From regular structures like RAMs and ROMs, to semi-regular structures like control/status register and NoCs, to entire processors, the HDL source and other input files for these blocks is produced by tooling from a higher-level specification, not typed by designers or output by AI. My work revolves around raising the level of abstraction used when writing HDL generators beyond scripts that output text. I propose that generators should not generate HDL text directly as with a "script", rather generators should be written with an API to assemble the HDL for output. This assures that the generator can only output syntactically valid HDL, and that errors are reported in the context of user input. This is especially important when an HDL generator is product, where failures and poor error reporting result in higher support costs for vendors, and poor outcomes for customers.
Event Type
Engineering Poster
TimeTuesday, July 285:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
LocationDAC Pavilion, Exhibit Floor
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