a5c-ai HDL Simulation Skill
Overview
Expert skill for HDL simulation across multiple simulators, enabling comprehensive functional verification of FPGA designs.
Capabilities
- Generate simulation scripts (do files, tcl)
- Configure ModelSim/Questa simulations
- Configure Vivado Simulator (xsim)
- Configure VCS and Xcelium simulations
- Analyze waveforms for debugging
- Generate VCD and FSDB dumps
- Configure code coverage collection
- Support mixed-language simulation
Target Processes
- functional-simulation.js
- testbench-development.js
- uvm-testbench.js
- constrained-random-verification.js
Usage Guidelines
Simulator Setup
- Create project-specific compilation scripts
- Configure library mappings
- Set up include paths and search paths
- Define simulation options
- Configure waveform dump formats
ModelSim/Questa
vlib work
vlog -sv +incdir+../rtl ../rtl/*.sv
vsim -voptargs="+acc" tb_top
add wave -recursive /*
run -all
Vivado Simulator (xsim)
xvlog --sv ../rtl/*.sv
xelab -debug typical tb_top -s tb_sim
xsim tb_sim -runall
VCS
vcs -sverilog -debug_access+all -f filelist.f -o simv
./simv +vcs+vcdpluson
Waveform Analysis
- Identify timing relationships
- Trace signal propagation
- Compare expected vs. actual
- Use markers for measurements
- Create protocol decoders
Coverage Collection
- Statement coverage
- Branch coverage
- Toggle coverage
- FSM coverage
- Functional coverage (SystemVerilog)
Mixed-Language
- Compile VHDL and Verilog separately
- Use proper interface binding
- Handle type conversions
- Configure library order
- Test boundary conditions
Dependencies
- Simulator CLI integration
- Waveform viewer knowledge
- Coverage analysis tools