SYNOPSIS

gvhdl [OPTION] ... [VHDL_FILES] ... [OBJECT_FILES] ...

DESCRIPTION

FreeHDL is a compiler/simulator suite for the hardware description language VHDL. VHDL'93 as well as VHDL'87 standards are supported.

FreeHDL translates the original VHDL source FILEs into C++. Then, the C++ source can be compiled and linked to the kernel to build the simulation program. Starting the generated executable will simulate the corresponding VHDL model. The actual build process to generate the simulator from the VHDL source is a complex process which is handled by the gvhdl script.

VHDL_FILES is a list of VHDL source file names that must end with .vhdl or .vhd. The first VHDL file name also determines the name of the simulator executable. This is, the final executable will be named after the first VHDL file without the .vhdl or .vhd extension. Note that the object files as well as the simulator will be created in the current directory.

OBJECT_FILES specifies a list of object files that are linked to the simulator executable. gvhdl considers all files that end with .o to be object files. Typically, these object files are generated previously (using option -c) from VHDL source code during a separate compilation step.

OPTIONS

-L VHDLLIB

Path to VHDL library root directory. Within this directory the compiler search for a file named v2cc.libs. The mapping file v2cc.libs translates library unit names to directories. Note that more than one VHDLLIB may be provided.

-g

Adds debug information to the executable. In detail, this options associates the generated machine code to the corresponding lines in the VHDL source files.

-G

Adds debug information to the executable but does not associate machine code to VHDL source lines. This option is actually used to debug the generated C++ code.

-c

Do not generate simulator executable. Using this option, the compiler translated VHDL source into executables and compiles them into object code but does not generate a final simulator executable. This option is especially useful to compile VHDL packages.

-l LIBNAME

Associate the VHDL source code to VHDL library LIBNAME. As default the library name WORK is used. This option is especially important if VHDL components from several VHDL libraries shall be build into the simulator. Note that in order to successfully use a VHDL component from another than the current working library, the corresponding VHDL files must be found by the compiler using the mechanisms described in v2cc.libs. Further, components must be compiled with the appropriate -l LIBNAME option.

--relaxed-component-visibility

Allows invisible default bindings from WORK.

--libieee

Add the IEEE standard library files to the simulation executable.

SUPPORTED VHDL SUBSET

Currently, FreeHDL does not support the entire VHDL'93 standard. The following incomplete list gives an overview on what is currently not supported:

- Individual association of formals of composite type are not supported.

- Shared variables are not supported.

- Attributes transaction, quiet, stable and delayed are not supported.

- User defined attributes are not supported.

- Groups are not supported.

- Guarded signal assignments are not supported.

- Configurations are not supported.

- Currently, drivers cannot be switched off.

EXAMPLES

Use

    gvhdl -c adder.vhdl

to build an object file for adder.vhdl. Note that adder.vhdl may contain several VHDL models.

    gvhdl adder.vhdl

will generate a simulator for the last VHDL model found in adder.vhdl. However, in this case, all VHDL components that area required to build the simulator must be included in the VHDL source file.

    gvhdl top.vhdl adder.o --libieee

generates a simulator for the last VHDL model found in top.vhdl by compiling all models in top.vhdl and linking (the previously generated) adder.o object file and the IEEE standard libraries to the executable.

    gvhdl -c -l mylib adder.vhdl

will build an object file including all components provided in adder.vhdl. However, in this case the components will be associated with library mylib instead of the default library name work. Note that option -l does only effect the generated C++ source code but does not alter the place where the object files or executables are stored.

SIMULATION COMMANDS

After the simulator has been started a short summary of the available commands is printed to the screen:

  c <number> : execute cycles = execute <number> simulation cycles
  n          : next = execute next simulation cycle
  q          : quit = quit simulation
  r <time>   : run = execute simulation for <time>
  d          : dump = dump signals
  doff       : dump off = stop dumping signals
  don        : dump on = continue dumping signals
  s          : show = show signal values
  dv         : dump var  = dump a signal from the signal lists
  ds         : dump show  = shows the list of dumped signals
  nds        : number  show  = shows the number  of dumped signals
  dc [-f <filename>] [-t <timescale> <time unit>] [-cfg <translation file>] [-q]
                : configures dump process 

Note that signals are dumped into a file (default file name is "wave.dmp") in VCD format. This file format should be accepted by each VCD waveform viewer. The file name is set to "wave.dmp" but may be changed using "dc -f <new_file_name>". However, make sure to execute "dc -f ..." before executing "d".

SIMULATOR COMMAND LINE OPTIONS

Simulation can be controlled via the command line parameter '-cmd "cmd1; cmd2; ..."' where 'cmd1', 'cmd2', ... are simulation commands as described in the previous section. Note that each command must be separated by ';'. E.g., executing

   ./top -cmd "d;run 1000 ns;q;"

will start simulation program 'top', dump all signals and run simulation for 1000 ns. Finally, simulation is terminated. Actually, the last command 'q;' is optional as the simulator automatically terminates as soon as the last command has been executed.

AVAILABILITY

The latest version of FreeHDL can always be obtained from www.freehdl.seul.org

REPORTING BUGS

Known bugs are documented within the BUGS file. If your report addresses a parser related topic then contact Marius Vollmer <[email protected]>. If it is related to the code generator or compiler then send an email to Edwin Naroska <[email protected]>. If your are not sure send it to Edwin. He will take care of forwarding your report to the appropriate recipient.

COPYRIGHT

Edwin Naroska © 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 <[email protected]>

This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

AUTHORS

Written by Marius Vollmer <[email protected]> and Edwin Naroska <[email protected]>.