Coding VHDL for Reviewability, Paper D4

Ben Cohen
VhdlCohen Training/Consulting
vhdlcohen@aol.com   vhdlchohen@klabs.org

Rod Bart
Spacecraft Digital Electronics
rbarto@klabs.org

Richard B. Katz
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
rich.katz@gsfc.nasa.gov

Detailed design reviews are an important component of any high-reliability project.  This paper presents elements of a VHDL coding style that will enhance reviewability, including:

 

•         File Management System
    Inter-relationships of

–       Documents (e.g., specifications, diagrams, timing models)

–       HDL designs (synthesizable and Testbench Models)

–       Simulation and synthesis results

 

•         Coding Style

–       Convention

•         Support file management style

•         Enhance code readability

–       Guidelines

•         FSM style

•         Partitioning

•         Style

–       Rules for Synthesis

–       Rules for Verification Designs