This post is to introduce the Register
Workbench. It is intended for those design and verification
engineers involved in FPGA/ASIC designs that contain registers and
memory. For those readers that are tcl/tk users, it may be noted
that the Register Workbench is a tcl/tk application and it is
distributed in source form. The package can be downloaded from here:
Register Workbench VHDL 0.1
The register set and memory map of a design can be very tedious to produce and maintain. This includes definition, documentation, RTL and verification. It has been seen that some bigger design teams break the task “of registers” down into specific tasks for different people. This introduces delays and inconsistencies for the dissemination of needed information. The documentation gets behind, the RTL gets ahead, and verification does not really know what is correct. I posted test bench package variables and described a centralized table definition. This solves some of the problem but not all of it. The solution is a way to gather, store and generate code and documentation, from a register and memory map definition.
I have crated a tool that enables the definition of memory maps and registers. It is called the Register Workbench. This tck/tk application enables the user to input and modify the definition. The storage format is open and documented in the package with the tool. The storage format is also used internally by the tool, as the file is simply read in and held internally as a list. This is the initial public release of the Register Workbench (RWb). It includes generation geared towards the VHDL Test Bench Package. This includes “defines” for registers names and addresses for inclusion in a stimulus file, generation of VHDL BFM shell containing the defined register block and memory, generation of the VHDL RTL of the register block and some basic HTML documentation generation. It is planed to upgrade and extend the Register Workbench for some time.
What will you gain from using the RWb?
First off, you gain by centralizing the information related to your designs register and memory. This includes document related description text. This means that when changes are made, the change propagates down the design chain almost instantly.
Secondly, you gain stability. Once the generation system is in place, the consistency of the output is guaranteed.
You gain options. The open source, tool code, and storage format enables the you to modify and add to the functionality or definitions.
You gain insight. If you have never used a tool like this on a design that contains registers and memory, you will gain the insight into the benefits.
You gain by being efficient. You will save time by using the tool to assist in your register definition and maintenance. Even if you have to write your own generation code, you will gain. This is the main purpose of the RWb, to save time.
Being the sole coder on this project has opened my eyes to how difficult it is to produce a quality tool. One that will be easy to use and give good information to the user. Most of all how difficult it is to cover all possible operations that a user may take. If you use the RWb and find problems, have comments or suggestions, or would like to contribute, my contact information is included in the documentation. I hope, by using the RWb, that you save time and improve the quality of your efforts ...
Sckoarn
October 10, 2014
Update tool to include "C" #defines header file generation.
Nov. 7, 2014
Update/Upgrade HTML output to include browser and Document Outputs.
This is a big upgrade to the generated HTML output.
The register set and memory map of a design can be very tedious to produce and maintain. This includes definition, documentation, RTL and verification. It has been seen that some bigger design teams break the task “of registers” down into specific tasks for different people. This introduces delays and inconsistencies for the dissemination of needed information. The documentation gets behind, the RTL gets ahead, and verification does not really know what is correct. I posted test bench package variables and described a centralized table definition. This solves some of the problem but not all of it. The solution is a way to gather, store and generate code and documentation, from a register and memory map definition.
I have crated a tool that enables the definition of memory maps and registers. It is called the Register Workbench. This tck/tk application enables the user to input and modify the definition. The storage format is open and documented in the package with the tool. The storage format is also used internally by the tool, as the file is simply read in and held internally as a list. This is the initial public release of the Register Workbench (RWb). It includes generation geared towards the VHDL Test Bench Package. This includes “defines” for registers names and addresses for inclusion in a stimulus file, generation of VHDL BFM shell containing the defined register block and memory, generation of the VHDL RTL of the register block and some basic HTML documentation generation. It is planed to upgrade and extend the Register Workbench for some time.
What will you gain from using the RWb?
First off, you gain by centralizing the information related to your designs register and memory. This includes document related description text. This means that when changes are made, the change propagates down the design chain almost instantly.
Secondly, you gain stability. Once the generation system is in place, the consistency of the output is guaranteed.
You gain options. The open source, tool code, and storage format enables the you to modify and add to the functionality or definitions.
You gain insight. If you have never used a tool like this on a design that contains registers and memory, you will gain the insight into the benefits.
You gain by being efficient. You will save time by using the tool to assist in your register definition and maintenance. Even if you have to write your own generation code, you will gain. This is the main purpose of the RWb, to save time.
Being the sole coder on this project has opened my eyes to how difficult it is to produce a quality tool. One that will be easy to use and give good information to the user. Most of all how difficult it is to cover all possible operations that a user may take. If you use the RWb and find problems, have comments or suggestions, or would like to contribute, my contact information is included in the documentation. I hope, by using the RWb, that you save time and improve the quality of your efforts ...
Sckoarn
October 10, 2014
Update tool to include "C" #defines header file generation.
Nov. 7, 2014
Update/Upgrade HTML output to include browser and Document Outputs.
This is a big upgrade to the generated HTML output.
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