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Re: [oc] Verilog coding style for Open Cores-RTL - Case in pointSHA1



Aloha!

Shehryar Shaheen wrote:
> SystemC is more for system modeling (HW+SW) some
>  complex SoCs like the E-GOLD GSM Chipset from Infenieon
>  used SystemC in it's design process.
> 
> Siemens has also been using SystemC for ATM chipsets.

ATM - Which is also a dead technology BTW. ,-)

(Sorry couldn't resist)

> Sysnopys already has the CoCentric compiler for SysyemC synthesis
>  and also at the DAC 2003 Synopsys would be showing up at the
>  SystemC booth.
> 
> If you look at the RTL subset of SystemC you'll notice that it's very
> similar
>  to VHDL or Verilog RTL subset. So in terms of syhthesis people who don't
> have
>  experience with pure HDLs won't be able to just write some code in C++ and
>  turn it into hardware.
> 
> But we'll probably see more executable specifications for SoCs being written
>  in SystemC.

Trust me, I have used basically basically all tools available on the market 
for SoC-modelling (they generally suck pretty badly) and been involved in 
writing a few proprietary models and tools myself.

I'm also aware that there are places where SystemC is used. What I refer to is 
that among peers (according to stats from DAC, comments in ESNUG etc), SystemC 
is not popular. And even more importantly among peers, SystemC doesn't seem to 
solve problems in a way more productive way that people are doing today.

What have also become quite clear is that many sites that have been using or 
are using SystemC are doing so because high-level management have decided on 
using SystemC, not because the engineering department have asked for it.

I have also been on presentations by EDA vendors where the argument *for* 
SystemC have been that by using SystemC, "cheap SW designers" (as in low 
salaries) can build ASICs. That have been the argument and some managers are 
buying in to that.

It's a similar to the argument used by some to promote graphical design entry 
tools, where knowledge about hardware somehow is not needed when you can draw 
FSMs, flowcharts etc.

-- 
Med vänlig hälsning, Yours

Joachim Strömbergson - Alltid i harmonisk svängning.
VP, Research & Development
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