SystemVerilog Design and Verification for Verilog users
PLEASE NOTE: This is a LIVE INSTRUCTOR-LED training event delivered ONLINE.
It covers the same scope and content as a scheduled in-person class and delivers comparable learning outcomes. Daily sessions comprise 4-6 hours of class contact time.
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SystemVerilog (IEEE 1800™), the successor to the Verilog® hardware description language, has become the dominant language standard for functional verification. SystemVerilog significantly enhances the capabilities of Verilog in a number of areas, offering productivity improvements for RTL designers, assertions, and constrained random stimulus generation for verification engineers.
Comprehensive SystemVerilog provides a complete and integrated training program to fulfil the requirements of design and verification engineers and those wishing to evaluate SystemVerilog's applicability to both design and verification applications. It is structured to enable engineers to develop their skills to cover the full breadth of SystemVerilog features for both design and verification. This includes the requirements of verification engineers who wish to exploit the potential of class-based verification and object oriented techniques using SystemVerilog, as well as RTL coding, assertions and test benches. Design engineers who do not intend to use SystemVerilog for class-based verification should attend the shorter training course SystemVerilog for Design and Verification ONLINE, which shares the same content as Sessions 1 to 4 of Comprehensive SystemVerilog ONLINE.
Workshops comprise approximately 50% of class time and are based around carefully designed exercises to reinforce and challenge the extent of learning.
Doulos is an independent company, enabling delegates to receive the benefit of objective tuition while learning in the context of their chosen tool and methodology. Leading tools supported for this course include:
Other tools may be available on request. Please contact Doulos if your preferred tools are not listed here.
The course is structured into distinct sections.
Comprehensive SystemVerilog provides the essential SystemVerilog language foundations for learning the UVM verification methodology. Doulos also offers follow-on training in each of these specific methodologies. For further details, see UVM Adopter Class.
A good working knowledge of Verilog is essential:
If you require any of these precursor training options please contact the Doulos team to discuss what will best suit your needs, or complete an online enquiry.
Doulos class materials are renowned for being the most comprehensive and user friendly available. Their style, content and coverage is unique in the HDL training world, and has made them sought after resources in their own right. The materials include:
If you would prefer a paperback version of your Doulos Golden Reference Guide, this can be purchased from the Doulos online shop.
SystemVerilog for Design and Verification (sessions 1-4)
SystemVerilog Basics
Introduction
What is SystemVerilog? • Language Evolution • SystemVerilog Language Features • Caveats • The UVM Family Tree • Books and Resources
Verilog versus SystemVerilog
Logic Type • Reg, Logic, and Bit • Nets versus Variables - Refresh • Wire versus Var
Programming Language Features
C-Like Language Features • Static vs Automatic Variables • Static vs Automatic Tasks • ++, --, and Assignment Operators • Labeling • Time Units • Do While Loop • Immediate Assertions • join_none and join_any • Enhanced Tasks and Functions • Task and Function Arguments • Void Functions • Argument and Return Types • Type string • $sformat and $sformatf
Bus-Functional Modeling
Simple Module-Based BFM • Testbench using BFM • Separate Test from Test Harness
Basic Data Types
4-state and 2-state Types • Initial Values • Caveats with Signed Types • Enumerations • Type-Checking of Enumerations • struct • typedef struct • Packed Struct • Packed and Unpacked Arrays • Indexing Multidimensional Arrays • Packages • Packages and Ports
Interfaces
Simple Interface • Package versus Interface • Instantiating an Interface • Accessing Interface Members • Ports and Parameters on Interfaces • Pin-Level Interface • Modports • Generic Interface Ports • Task/Function in Interface • Calling Task through Interface Port
SystemVerilog RTL
RTL Processes
SystemVerilog and RTL Synthesis • Combinational Logic • Clocked Processes • always_comb, always_latch, always_ff • Synthesis-Friendly If / Case • priority case • unique if • unique case • Wild Equality Operators • case inside • inside Operator
RTL Types
Synthesizable Data Types • Enums for Finite State Machines • Base Types and Values • Rules for Overriding the Enum Values • Packed Struct (Review) • Packed Union • Multidimensional Arrays • Nets, Ports and Data Types • Types and Packages • Type Parameters • Synthesis of Interfaces • Multiple Drivers on a Bus • How to Differentiate Connections? • Modport Expressions • Modport Expressions with Generate
SystemVerilog Assertions
The SVA Language
What are Properties? • Property versus Assertion • Benefits Of Assertions • Who Writes Properties? • Immediate and Concurrent Assertions • Immediate Assertions • Assertion Failure Severity • Concurrent Assertions • Temporal Behaviour • Clocks and Default Clocks • Holds and Implication • Non-overlapped Implication • Simulation of Assertions • Assertion Coverage • Simulation and Cover Property • Binding
Properties, Assertions and Sequences
Implication • Properties are checked on every clock • |=> and |-> • $rose() and $fell() • $rose() vs posedge • $past() • $sampled() • Properties using Expressions • Named Properties • Sequences – Basic Syntax • Concatenation • Repetition • Consecutive Repetition • Unbounded Repetitions • Zero Repetitions • Non-Consecutive and Goto Repetition • Sequence versus Implication • $rose() and $fell() versus Sequence
More on Properties & Sequences (Optional Topic)
Sequence Operators • Sequence Or • Sequence and • Non-Length-Matching and • Sequence Length-Matching and • Throughout • Within • first_match • Property Operators • Beware Negating Implications • Operator Precedence • Named Sequences and Properties • Sequence Completion • Variables and Procedures in Sequences • Detecting the Endpoint of a Sequence • Turning Assertions Off
Module-based SystemVerilog Verification
Clocking Blocks
Clocking Block Syntax • Input and Output Skew • Creating a Clocking Block • Testbench and Clocking Block • Cycle Delays and Clocking • Input and Output Skew Syntax Summary • Scheduler Regions • Stimulus and Response • Signal Aliasing • Multiple Clocking Blocks • Driving a Net • Clocking Blocks in Interfaces • Clocking Blocks versus Programs
Randomization
Constrained Random Verification • Random Numbers in SystemVerilog • std::randomize • Constraint Syntax • Seeding and Random Stability • Saving & Restoring Seeds • Random Sequence of Valid Actions • Randcase • Randsequence
Coverage
Functional Coverage • Coverage Bins • Further Options • Transition Coverage • Cross Coverage • Adjusting Stimulus Using Coverage
Arrays and Queues
Dynamic Arrays • Queues • Working with Queues • Queue Methods • Nesting, Assignment Patterns, and %p • Array-like Containers • Associative Arrays • Associative Array Methods • Foreach
Other Language Features (Optional Topic)
$root and $unit • Enumeration Methods • Arrays for Multidimensional Structures • Initializing an Unpacked Array • Replication in an Assignment Pattern • Packed Arrays and Structures • Pass-by-Copy • Pass-by-Reference • const ref • Array Querying Functions • $bits • Bit-stream Casting • Array Manipulation Methods • Array Locator Methods • Array Ordering Methods • Array Reduction Methods • Other IEEE 1800-2009 Features
The Direct Programming Interface (Optional Topic)
DPI Simulation Flow • Command-line Switches • Importing a C Function • Changing the Imported Function Name • Mapping Data Types of Arguments • Exporting a Function to C • Sandwiches and Transparency • Importing and Exporting Tasks • Scalar Bit and Logic Arguments • Packed Arrays • Decoding the Canonical Representation • String Arguments • Open Array Arguments • Task Return Values • Task Disable Flow • Pure and Context
Class-based SystemVerilog Verification (sessions 5-8)
Classes for Transactions
Constrained Random Verification • Representing Transaction Data • SystemVerilog Classes • Object = Instance of Class • Constructor • Constructor Arguments
Class Members and Copying
Static Data Members • Constant Data Members • Randomized Data Members • Data Members of Class Type • Forward Typedef • Object Copy with new • Shallow Copy • Deep or Shallow Copy?
Virtual Interfaces
Test Harness and Testbench • Modules versus Classes • Creating the Testbench • Virtual Interface • Building a test harness • Adding a clocking block • Connecting the virtual interface • Accessing a Task through a Modport • Testbench Static Structure • BFM or Driver Class • Testbench Object Structure
Extending Classes for Stimulus
Improved Generator Class • Constrained randomization • Creating an Extended Class • The Inheritance Relationship • Inheriting Class Members • Control Knobs and Constraints • Methods of Extended Class • Derived-class Object, Base-class Variable • Virtual Methods • General-Purpose Infrastructure
TLM and Channels
Reusable Verification Environments • Transaction Level Modeling • Using Channels • Generic Channel and Transaction Classes • Out-of-Block Declarations • Connecting Channels • Getting Data from a Generic Channel • Safe Downcasting with $cast • Type Parameterization of Classes • Running Components with fork...join • fork...join_none • Identifying Forked Processes
Component Hierarchy
Testbench Component Hierarchy • Implementing Relationships • Base Classes (review) • Abstract Class and Pure Virtual Methods • Interface Classes in IEEE 1800-2012 • Component Base Class • Launching a Task with fork...join_none • Customising a Component • Constructing a Component
Monitors and Checkers
Kinds of BFM-Like Component • Monitors and Checkers • Bus Protocol Checking • Modports for Driver and Monitor • Monitor Implementation • Using the Monitored Transactions • Checker Implementation • Mutual Exclusion • Semaphore Class • Checker with Mutual Exclusion
Functional Coverage
Coverage Driven Verification • Verification Planning • From Features to Tests • Covergroups • Embedded Covergroups • Procedural Sampling • Arguments and Options • Coverage Bins • Bins and Coverage • Cross Coverage • Cross Coverage and Labels • Cross Coverage Example • Controlling Cross Bins
More on Constraints (Optional Topic)
Inline Constraints • Overriding Constraints • Procedural Control of Randomization • Procedural Control of Constraints • Constraint Ordering • Function Calls within a Constraint • Constraining Dynamic Arrays • Constraining an Array-of-Objects • Arrays within a Constraint • Hierarchical Constraints • unique • Soft Constraints
Processes and Events (Optional Topic)
The std Package • What is a "process"? • fork...join_none • fork...join_any • wait fork • disable fork • Identifying Processes • Fine-grain Process Control • Process Control Example • Mailbox Class • Using Mailboxes • Enhanced Events
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