VVP Simulation Engine

The VVP simulator takes as input source code not unlike assembly language for a conventional processor. It is intended to be machine generated code emitted by other tools, including the Icarus Verilog compiler, so the syntax, though readable, is not necessarily convenient for humans.

General Format

The source file is a collection of statements. Each statement may have a label, an opcode, and operands that depend on the opcode. For some opcodes, the label is optional (or meaningless) and for others it is required.

Every statement is terminated by a semicolon. The semicolon is also the start of a comment line, so you can put comment text after the semicolon that terminates a statement. Like so:

Label .functor and, 0x5a, x, y  ; This is a comment.

The semicolon is required, whether the comment is there or not.

Statements may span multiple lines, as long as there is no text (other then the first character of a label) in the first column of the continuation line.

Header Syntax

Before any other non-commentary code starts, the source may contain some header statements. These are used for passing parameters or global details from the compiler to the vvp run-time. In all cases, the header statement starts with a left-justified keyword.

  • :module “name” ;

This header statement names a vpi module that vvp should load before the rest of the program is compiled. The compiler looks in the standard VPI_MODULE_PATH for files named “name.vpi”, and tries to dynamic load them.

  • :vpi_time_precision [+|-]<value>;

This header statement specifies the time precision of a single tick of the simulation clock. This is mostly used for display (and VPI) purposes, because the engine itself does not care about units. The compiler scales time values ahead of time.

The value is the size of a simulation tick in seconds, and is expressed as a power of 10. For example, +0 is 1 second, and -9 is 1 nanosecond. If the record is left out, then the precision is taken to be +0.

Labels and Symbols

Labels and symbols consist of the characters:

a-z
A-Z
0-9
.$_<>

Labels and symbols may not start with a digit or a ‘.’, so that they are easily distinguished from keywords and numbers. A Label is a symbol that starts a statement. If a label is present in a statement, it must start in the first text column. This is how the lexical analyzer distinguishes a label from a symbol. If a symbol is present in a statement, it is in the operand. Opcodes of statements must be a keyword.

Symbols are references to labels. It is not necessary for a label to be declared before its use in a symbol, but it must be declared eventually. When symbols refer to functors, the symbol represents the vvp_ipoint_t pointer to the output. (Inputs cannot, and need not, be references symbolically.)

If the functor is part of a vector, then the symbol is the vvp_ipoint_t for the first functor. The [] operator can then be used to reference a functor other than the first in the vector.

There are some special symbols that in certain contexts have special meanings. As inputs to functors, the symbols “C<0>”, “C<1>”, “C<x>” and “C<z>” represent a constant driver of the given value.

Numbers

decimal number tokens are limited to 64bits, and are unsigned. Some contexts may constrain the number size further.

Scope Statements

The syntax of a scope statement is:

<label> .scope <type>, <name> <type-name> <file> <lineno> ;

<label> .scope <type>, <name> <type-name> <file> <lineno>, \
               <def-file> <def-lineno> <is-cell>, <parent> ;

The <type> is the general type of the scope: module, autofunction, function, autotask, task, begin, fork, autobegin, autofork, or generate.

The <name> is a string that is the base name of the instance. For modules, this is the instance name. For tasks and functions, this is the task or function name.

The <type-name> is the name of the type. For most scope types, this is the name as the <name>, but for module and class scopes, this is the name of the definition, and not the instance.

The <file> and <lineno> are the location of the instantiation of this scope. For a module, it is the location of the instance.

The <def-file> and <def-lineno> is the source file and line number for the definition of the scope. For modules, this is where the module is defined instead of where it is instantiated.

The <is-cell> flag is only useful for module instances. It is true (not zero) if the module is a celltype instead of a regular module.

The short form of the scope statement is only used for root scopes.

Parameter Statements

Parameters are named constants within a scope. These parameters have a type and value, and also a label so that they can be referenced as VPI objects.

The syntax of a parameter is:

<label> .param/str <name> <local-flag> <file-idx> <lineno>, <value>;
<label> .param/l <name> <local-flag> <file-idx> <lineno>, <value>;
<label> .param/r <name> <local-flag> <file-idx> <lineno>, <value>;

The <name> is a string that names the parameter. The name is placed in the current scope as a vpiParameter object. The .param suffix specifies the parameter type:

.param/str    -- The parameter has a string value
.param/l      -- The parameter has a logic vector value
.param/r      -- The parameter has a real value

The value, then, is appropriate for the data type. For example:

P_123 .param/str "hello", "Hello, World.";

The boolean and logic values can also be signed or not. If signed, the value is preceded by a ‘+’ character. (Note that the value is 2s complement, so the ‘+’ says only that it is signed, not positive.)

Functor Statements

A functor statement is a statement that uses the .functor opcode. Functors are the basic structural units of a simulation, and include a type (in the form of a truth table) and up to four inputs. A label is required for functors.

The general syntax of a functor is:

<label> .functor <type>, symbol_list ;
<label> .functor <type> [<drive0> <drive1>], symbol_list ;

The symbol list is 4 names of labels of other functors. These connect inputs of the functor of the statement to the output of other functors. If the input is unconnected, use a C<?> symbol instead. The type selects the truth lookup table to use for the functor implementation. Most of the core gate types have built in tables.

The initial values of all the inputs and the output is x. Any other value is passed around as run-time behavior. If the inputs have C<?> symbols, then the inputs are initialized to the specified bit value, and if this causes the output to be something other than x, a propagation event is created to be executed at the start of run time.

The strengths of inputs are ignored by functors, and the output has fixed drive0 and drive1 strengths. So strength information is typically lost as it passes through functors.

Almost all of the structural aspects of a simulation can be represented by functors, which perform the very basic task of combining up to four inputs down to one output.

  • MUXZ

Q | A  B  S  n/a
--+-------------
A | *  *  0
B | *  *  1

DFF and Latch Statements

The Verilog language itself does not have a DFF primitive, but post synthesis readily creates DFF devices that are best simulated with a common device. Thus, there is the DFF statement to create DFF devices:

<label> .dff/p <width> <d>, <clk>, <ce>;
<label> .dff/n <width> <d>, <clk>, <ce>;
<label> .dff/p/aclr <width> <d>, <clk>, <ce>, <async-input>;
<label> .dff/n/aclr <width> <d>, <clk>, <ce>, <async-input>;
<label> .dff/p/aset <width> <d>, <clk>, <ce>, <async-input>[, <set-value>];
<label> .dff/n/aset <width> <d>, <clk>, <ce>, <async-input>[, <set-value>];

The /p variants simulate positive-edge triggered flip-flops and the /n variants simulate negative-edge triggered flip-flops. The generated functor is generally synchronous on the specified edge of <clk>, with the <ce> enable active high. The <clk> and <ce> are single bit vectors (or scalars) on ports 1 and 2. Port-0 is any type of datum at all. The device will transfer the input to the output when it is loaded by a clock. The <async-input> is a special asynchronous input that on the rising edge causes the device to clear/set, forces the output to propagate, and disables the clock until the aynchronous input is deasserted. Thus, they implement DFF with asynchronous clr or set.

Similarly, synthesis creates D-type latches, so there is the LATCH statement to support this:

<label> .latch <width> <d>, <en>;

The <en> is a single bit vector (or scalar) on port-1. Port-0 is any type of datum at all. The device will transfer the input to the output whenever <en> is a logic 1.

UDP Statements

A UDP statement either defines a User Defined Primitive, or instantiates a previously defined UDP by creating a UDP functor. A UDP functor has as many inputs as the UDP definition requires.

UDPs come in sequential and combinatorial flavors. Sequential UDPs carry an output state and can respond to edges at the inputs. The output of combinatorial UDPs is a function of its current inputs only.

The function of a UDP is defined via a table. The rows of the table are strings which describe input states or edges, and the new output state. Combinatorial UDPs require one character for each input, and one character at the end for the output state. Sequential UDPs need an additional char for the current state, which is the first char of the row.

Any input transition or the new state must match at most one row (or all matches must provide the same output state). If no row matches, the output becomes 1’bx.

The output state can be specified as “0”, “1”, or “x”. Sequential UDPs may also have “-”: no change.

An input or current output state can be

"1": 1
"0": 0
"x": x
"b": 1, 0
"h": 1, x
"l": 0, x
"?": 1, 0, x

For Sequential UDPs, at most one input state specification may be replaced by an edge specification. Valid edges are:

"*": (??)       "_": (?0)       "+": (?1)       "%": (?x)
"P": (0?)                       "r": (01)       "Q": (0x)
"N": (1?)       "f": (10)                       "M": (1x)
"B": (x?)       "F": (x0)       "R": (x1)

"n": (1?) | (?0)
"p": (0?) | (?1)

A combinatorial UDP is defined like this:

<type> .udp/comb "<name>", <number>, "<row0>", "<row1>", ... ;

<type> is a label that identifies the UDP. <number> is the number of inputs. “<name>” is there for public identification. Sequential UDPs need an additional initialization value:

<type> .udp/sequ "<name>", <number>, <init>, "<row0>", "<row1>", ... ;

<init> is the initial value for all instances of the UDP. We do not provide initial values for individual instances. <init> must be a number 0, 1, or 2 (for 1’bx).

A UDP functor instance is created so:

<label> .udp  <type>, <symbol_list> ;

Where <label> identifies the functor, <type> is the label of a UDP defined earlier, and <symbol_list> is a list of symbols, one for each input of the UDP.

Variable Statements

A variable is a bit vector that can be written by behavioral code (so has no structural input) and propagates its output to a functor. The general syntax of a variable is:

<label> .var   "name", <msb> <lsb>; Unsigned logic variable
<label> .var/s "name", <msb> <lsb>; Signed logic variable
<label> .var/2u "name", <msb> <lsb>; Unsigned bool/bit variable
<label> .var/2s "name", <msb> <lsb>; Signed bool/bit variable
<label> .var/real "name", <msb>, <lsb>; real variable
<label> .var/i "name", <msb>, <lsb>; vpiIntegerVar variable
<label> .var/str "name"; vpiStringVar variable

The “name” is the declared base name of the original variable, for the sake of VPI code that might access it. The variable is placed in the current scope. The variable also has a width, defined by the indices for the most significant and lest significant bits. If the indices are equal (normally 0) the vector has width of one. If the width is greater then one, a contiguous array of functors is created and the value of the label is the address of the least significant bit.

A variable does not take inputs, since its value is set behaviorally by assignment events. It does have output, though, and its output is propagated into the net of functors in the usual way.

A variable gets its value by assignments from procedural code: %set and %assign. These instructions write values to the port-0 input. From there, the value is held.

Behavioral code can also invoke %cassign/v statements that work like %set/v, but instead write to port-1 of the variable node. Writes to port-1 of a variable activate continuous assign mode, where the values written to port-0 are ignored. The continuous assign mode remains active until a long(1) is written to port-3 (a command port).

Behavioral code may also invoke %force/v statements that write to port-2 to invoke force mode. This overrides continuous assign mode until a long(2) is written to port-3 to disable force mode.

Net Statements

A net is similar to a variable, except that a thread cannot write to it (unless it uses a force) and it is given a different VPI type code. The syntax of a .net statement is also similar to but not exactly the same as the .var statement:

<label> .net      "name", <msb>, <lsb>, <symbol>;
<label> .net/s    "name", <msb>, <lsb>, <symbol>;
<label> .net8     "name", <msb>, <lsb>, <symbol>;
<label> .net8/s   "name", <msb>, <lsb>, <symbol>;
<label> .net/real "name", <msb>, <lsb>, <symbol>;

Like a .var statement, the .net statement creates a VPI object with the basename and dimensions given as parameters. The symbol is a functor that feeds into the vector of the net, and the vpiHandle holds references to that functor.

The input of a .net is replicated to its output. In this sense, it acts like a diode. The purpose of this node is to hold various VPI and event trappings. The .net and .net8 nodes are vector types. They both may represent wires, but the .net8 nodes preserve strength values that arrive through them, while .net nodes reduce strength values to 4-value logic. The .net8 nodes should only be used when strength information really is possible.

The <label> is required and is used to locate the net object that it represents. This label does not map to a functor, so only references that know they want to access .nets are able to locate the symbol. In particular, this includes behavioral %load and %wait instructions. The references to net and reg objects are done through the .net label instead of a general functor symbol. The instruction stores the functor pointer, though.

The .alias statements do not create new nodes, but instead create net names that are aliases of an existing node. This handles special cases where a net has different names, possibly in different scopes.

Cast Statements

Sometimes nets need to be cast from a real valued net to a bit based net or from a bit based net to a real valued net. These statements are used to perform that operation:

<label> .cast/int <width>, <symbol>;
<label> .cast/2 <width>, <symbol>;
<label> .cast/real <symbol>;
<label> .cast/real.s <symbol>;

For .cast/int the output <label> is a bit based net that is <width> bits wide. The input <symbol> is expected to put real values to this functor.

For .cast/real the output <label> is a real valued net. The input <symbol> is expected to put bit based values and for .cast/real.s the bits will be interpreted as a signed value.

Delay Statements

Delay nodes are structural net delay nodes that carry and manage propagation delays. Delay nodes can have fixed delays or variable delays. Fixed delay nodes have only the input that is to be delayed. The delay amount is given on the node line. Variable delay nodes have three extra inputs to receive the rise, fall and decay times that are used for delay.

.delay <width> ( <rise>, <fall>, <decay> ) <input> ;
.delay <width> <input>, <rise>, <fall>, <decay> ;

The first form above takes three constant (64bit) numbers as the initial delay, and takes a single input. The second form takes 4 net inputs, with the first being the value to delay, and the remaining to be the delay values to use. <width> specifies the bit width of the input net, with a width of 0 used to identify a real valued net.

Module Path Delay Statements

A module path delay takes data from its input, then a list of module path delays. The <src> for each possible delay set is a trigger that activates the delay.

.modpath <width> <input> , [ <src> (<delays> [? <condition>]) ] ;

<width> specifies the bit width of the input net.

Array Index Statements

Variables can be collected into arrays. The words of the array are declared separately, this statement collects them together:

<label> .array "name", <last> <first> ;

the .var or .net statements after this array statement, that have the same “name” are collected, in order, as words.

The syntax below is different, in that it creates an alias for an existing array. The dimensions and storage are taken from the .array at <src>.

<label> .array "name", <src> ;

Event Statements

Threads need to interact with the functors of a netlist synchronously, as well as asynchronously. There are cases where the web of functors needs to wake up a waiting thread. The web of functors signals threads through .event objects, that are declared like so:

<label> .event <type>, <symbols_list>;
<label> .event "name";

This event statement declares an object that a %wait instruction can take as an operand. When a thread executes a %wait, it puts itself in the notification list of the event and suspends. The <symbols_list> is a set of inputs that can trigger the event.

The <type> describes the conditions needed to trigger the event. It may be posedge, negedge, edge or anyedge. If the type is instead a “name” string, then this is a named event which receives events by the %set instruction instead of from the output of a functor.

If the event has inputs (a requirement unless it is a named event) then it has up to 4 symbols that address functors. The event then detects the appropriate edge on any of the inputs and signals when the event is true. Normally (in Verilog) a posedge or negedge event only watches a single bit, so the generated code would only include a single symbol for the addressed bit. However, if there are several events of the same edge in an event OR expression, the compiler may combine up to 4 into a single event.

If many more events need to be combined together (for example due to an event or expression in the Verilog) then this form can be used:

<label> .event/or <symbols_list>;

In this case, the symbols list all the events that are to be combined to trigger this event. Only one of the input events needs to trigger to make this one go.

Resolver Statements

Resolver statements are strength-aware functors with 4 inputs, but their job typically is to calculate a resolved output using strength resolution. The type of the functor is used to select a specific resolution function.

<label> .resolv tri,  <symbols_list>;
<label> .resolv tri0, <symbols_list>;
<label> .resolv tri1, <symbols_list>;

The output from the resolver is vvp_vector8_t value. That is, the result is a vector with strength included.

Part Select Statements

Part select statements are functors with three inputs. They take in at port-0 a vector, and output a selected (likely smaller) part of that vector. The other inputs specify what those parts are, as a canonical bit number, and a width. Normally, those bits are constant values.

<label> .part <symbol>, <base>, <wid>;
<label> .part/pv <symbol>, <base>, <wid>, <vector_wid>;
<label> .part/v <symbol>, <symbol>, <wid>;
<label> .part/v.s <symbol>, <symbol>, <wid>;

The input is typically a .reg or .net, but can be any vector node in the netlist.

The .part/pv variation is the inverse of the .part version, in that the output is actually written to a part of the output. The node uses special part-select-write functions to propagate a part of a network. The <vector_wid> is the total width of the destination net that part is written to. Destination nodes use this value to check further output widths.

The .part/v variation takes a vector (or long) input on port-1 as the base of the part select. Thus, the part select can move around. The .part/v.s variation treats the vector as a signed value.

Part Concatenation Statements

The opposite of the part select statement is the part concatenation statement. The .concat statement is a functor node that takes at input vector values and produces a single vector output that is the concatenation of all the inputs.

<label> .concat [W X Y Z], <symbols_list> ;

The “[” and “]” tokens surround a set of 4 numbers that are the expected widths of all the inputs. These widths are needed to figure the positions of the input vectors in the generated output, and are listed in order LSB to MSB. The inputs themselves are also listed LSB to MSB, with the LSB vector input coming through port-0 of the real functor.

The initial output value is (W+X+Y+Z) bits of ‘bx. As input values are propagated, the bits are placed in the correct place in the output vector value, and a new output value is propagated.

Repeat Vector Statements

The repeat vector statement is similar to the concatenation statement, expect that the input is repeated a constant number of times. The format of the repeat vector statement is:

<label> .repeat <wid>, <rept count>, <symbol> ;

In this statement, the <wid> is a decimal number that is the width of the output vector. The <rept count> is the number of time the input vector value is repeated to make the output width. The input width is implicit from these numbers. The <symbol> is then the input source.

Substitution Statements

The substitution statement doesn’t have a direct analog in Verilog, it only turns up in synthesis. It is a shorthand for forms like this:

foo = <a>;
foo[n] = <s>;

The format of the substitute statement is:

<label> .substitute <wid>, <soff> <swid>, <symbol>, <symbol> ;

The first <symbol> must have the width <wid>, and is passed through, except for the bits within [<soff> +: <swid>]. The second <symbol> collects a vector that goes into that part.

Reduction Logic

The reduction logic statements take in a single vector, and propagate a single bit.

<label> .reduce/and  <symbol> ;
<label> .reduce/or   <symbol> ;
<label> .reduce/xor  <symbol> ;
<label> .reduce/nand <symbol> ;
<label> .reduce/nor  <symbol> ;
<label> .reduce/xnor <symbol> ;

the device has a single input, which is a vector of any width. The device performs the logic on all the bits of the vector (a la Verilog) and produces and propagates a single bit width vector.

Expansion Logic

Sign extension nodes are the opposite of reduction logic, in that they take a narrow vector, or single bit, and pad it out to a wider vector.

<label> .expand/s <wid>, <symbol> ;

The .expand/s node takes an input symbol and sign-extends it to the given width.

Force Statements (old method - remove me)

A force statement creates functors that represent a Verilog force statement.

<label> .force <signal>, <symbol_list>;

The symbol <signal> represents the signal which is to be forced. The <symbol_list> specifies the bits of the expression that is to be forced on the <signal>. The <label> identifies the force functors. There will be as many force functors as there are symbols in the <symbol_list>.

To activate and deactivate a force on a single bit, use:

%force  <label>, <width>;
%release <signal>;

<label>/<width> is the label/width of a vector of force functors. <signal> is the label of the functor that drives the signal that is being forced.

Force Statements (new method - implement me)

A %force instruction, as described in the .var section, forces a constant value onto a .var or .net, and the matching %release releases that value. However, there are times when the value of a functor (i.e. another .net) needs to be forced onto a .var or .net. For this task, the %force/link instruction exists:

%force/link <dst>, <src> ;
%release/link <dst> ;

This causes the output of the node <src> to be linked to the force input of the <dst> .var/.net node. When linked, the output functor will automatically drive values to the force port of the destination node. The matching %release/link instruction removes the link (a %release is still needed) to the destination. The %release/link releases the last %force/link, no matter where the link is from. A new %force/link will remove a previous link.

The instructions:

%cassign/link <dst>, <src> ;
%deassign/link <dst> ;

are the same concept, but for the continuous assign port.

Structural Arithmetic Statements

The various Verilog arithmetic operators (+-*/%) are available to structural contexts as two-input functors that take in vectors. All of these operators take two inputs and generate a fixed width output. The input vectors will be padded if needed to get the desired output width.

<label> .arith/sub  <wid>, <A>, <B>;
<label> .arith/sum  <wid>, <A>, <B>;
<label> .arith/mult <wid>, <A>, <B>;
<label> .arith/div  <wid>, <A>, <B>;
<label> .arith/mod  <wid>, <A>, <B>;

In all cases, there are no width limits, so long as the width is fixed.

NOTE: The .arith/mult inputs are not necessarily the width of the output. I have not decided how to handle this.

These devices support .s and .r suffixes. The .s means the node is a signed vector device, the .r a real valued device.

Structural Compare Statements

The arithmetic statements handle various arithmetic operators that have wide outputs, but the comparators have single bit output, so they are implemented a bit differently. The syntax, however, is very similar:

<label> .cmp/eeq <wid>, <A>, <B>;
<label> .cmp/nee <wid>, <A>, <B>;
<label> .cmp/eq  <wid>, <A>, <B>;
<label> .cmp/ne  <wid>, <A>, <B>;
<label> .cmp/ge  <wid>, <A>, <B>;
<label> .cmp/gt  <wid>, <A>, <B>;
<label> .cmp/ge.s <wid>, <A>, <B>;
<label> .cmp/gt.s <wid>, <A>, <B>;
<label> .cmp/weq <wid>, <A>, <B>;
<label> .cmp/wne <wid>, <A>, <B>;

Whereas the arithmetic statements generate an output the width of <wid>, the comparisons produce a single bit vector result. The plain versions do unsigned comparison, but the “.s” versions to signed comparisons. (Equality doesn’t need to care about sign.)

Structural Shifter Statements

Variable shifts in structural context are implemented with .shift statements:

<label> .shift/l <wid>, <data symbol>, <shift symbol>;
<label> .shift/r <wid>, <data symbol>, <shift symbol>;

The shifter has a width that defines the vector width of the output, a <data symbol> that is the input data to be shifted and a <shift-symbol> that is the amount to shift. The vectors that come from port 0 are the data to be shifted and must have exactly the width of the output. The input to port 1 is the amount to shift.

Structural Function Calls

The .ufunc statements define a call to a user defined function.

<label> .ufunc/real <flabel>, <wid>,
    [<isymbols> ( <psymbols> )] <ssymbol>;

<label> .ufunc/vec4 <flabel>, <wid>,
    [<isymbols> ( <psymbols> )] <ssymbol>;

<label> .ufunc/e <flabel>, <wid>, <trigger>,
    <isymbols> ( <psymbols> ) <ssymbol>;

The first variant is used for functions that only need to be called when one of their inputs changes value. The second variant is used for functions that also need to be called when a trigger event occurs.

The <flabel> is the code label for the first instruction of the function implementation. This is code that the simulator will branch to.

The <wid> is the width of the output vector in bits.

The <trigger> is the label for the trigger event.

The <isymbols> is a list of net symbols for each of the inputs to the function. These are points in the net, and the ufunc device watches these nets for input changes.

The <psymbols> list is exactly the same size as the <isymbols> list. The <psymbols> are variables that represent the input ports for the function. The ufunc performs an assignment to these variables before calling the function.

The <ssymbol> is the function scope name.

Thread Statements

Thread statements create the initial threads for a simulation. These represent the initial and always blocks, and possibly other causes to create threads at startup.

.thread <symbol> [, <flag>]

This statement creates a thread with a starting address at the instruction given by <symbol>. When the simulation starts, a thread is created for the .thread statement, and it starts at the <symbol> addressed instruction.

The <flag> modifies the creation/execution behavior of the thread. Supported flags are:

$push -- Cause the thread to be pushed in the scheduler. This
         only effects startup (time 0) by arranging for pushed
         threads to be started before non-pushed threads. This
         is useful for resolving time-0 races.

  • Threads in general

Thread statements create the initial threads of a design. These include the initial and always statements of the original Verilog, and possibly some other synthetic threads for various purposes. It is also possible to create transient threads from behavioral code. These are needed to support such constructs as fork/join, named blocks and task activation.

A transient thread is created with a %fork instruction. When a transient thread is created this way, the operand to the %fork gives the starting address, and the new thread is said to be a child of the forking thread. The children of a thread are pushed onto a stack of children. A thread can have only one direct child.

A transient thread is reaped with a %join instruction. %join waits for the top thread in the stack of children to complete, then continues. It is an error to %join when there are no children.

As you can see, the transient thread in VVP is a cross between a conventional thread and a function call. In fact, there is no %call instruction in vvp, the job is accomplished with %fork/%join in the caller and %end in the callee. The %fork, then is simply a generalization of a function call, where the caller does not necessarily wait for the callee.

For all the behavior of threads and thread parentage to work correctly, all %fork statements must have a corresponding %join in the parent, and %end in the child. Without this proper matching, the hierarchical relationships can get confused. The behavior of erroneous code is undefined.

  • Thread Context

The context of a thread is all the local data that only that thread can address. The local data is broken into two address spaces: bit memory and word memory.

The bit memory is a region of 4-value bits (0,1,x,z) that can be addressed in strips of arbitrary length. For example, an 8-bit value can be in locations 8 through and including 15. The bits at address 0, 1, 2 and 3 are special constant values. Reads from those locations make vectors of 0, 1, x or z values, so these can be used to manufacture complex values elsewhere.

The word memory is a region of tagged words. The value in each word may be either a 64-bit unsigned integer (uint64_t), a 64-bit signed integer (int64_t), or a 64-bit floating point number (double). These words have a distinct address space from the bits.

  • Threads and scopes

The Verilog disable statement deserves some special mention because of how it interacts with threads. In particular, threads throughout the design can affect (end) other threads in the design using the disable statement.

In Verilog, the operand to the disable statement is the name of a scope. The behavior of the disable is to cause all threads executing in the scope to end. Termination of a thread includes all the children of the thread. In vvp, all threads are in a scope, so this is how the disable gains access to the desired thread.

It is obvious how initial/always thread join a scope. They become part of the scope simply by being declared after a .scope declaration. (See vvp.txt for .scope declarations.) The .thread statement placed in the assembly source after a .scope statement causes the thread to join the named scope.

Transient threads join a scope that is the operand to the %fork instruction. The scope is referenced by name, and the thread created by the fork atomically joins that scope. Once the transient thread joins the scope, it stays there until it ends. Threads never change scopes, not even transient threads.

Vpi Task/Function Calls

Threads call vpi tasks with the %vpi_call or %vpi_func instructions. The formats are:

%vpi_call <file-index> <lineno> <name>, <args>... ;
%vpi_call/w <file-index> <lineno> <name>, <args>... ;
%vpi_call/i <file-index> <lineno> <name>, <args>... ;
%vpi_func <file-index> <lineno> <name>, <args>... ;
%vpi_func/r <file-index> <lineno> <name>, <args>... ;
%vpi_func/s <file-index> <lineno> <name>, <args>... ;

The <file-index> is an index into the string table. The indexed string is the source code file name where this call appears. The <lineno> is the line number from the source code where this task/function appears.

The <name> is a string that is the name of the system task/function. For example, “$display”, $strobe”, etc. This name is looked up and compared with the registered system tasks/functions.

The <args>… is a comma (“,”) separated list of arguments. These are made available to the VPI code as vpi handles.

The plain %vpi_call will fail with an error message if a system function is called as a task. The /w suffix version will display a warning message if a system function is called as a task and will ignore any value that the function tries to return. The /i suffix version silently ignores any value returned by a system function called as a task.

  • The &A<> argument

The &A<> argument is a reference to the word of a variable array. The syntax is:

&A '<' <symbol> , <number> '>'
&A '<' <symbol> , <base_symbol> '>'
&A '<' <symbol> , <base> <width> <"s" or "u"> '>'

The <symbol> is the label for a variable array, and the <number> is the canonical word index as an unsigned integer. The second form retrieves the <base> from the given signal or &A<>/&PV<> select. The third form retrieves the index from thread space (<width> bits starting at <base>). The base value may be signed or unsigned.

  • The &PV<> argument

The &PV<> argument is a reference to part of a signal. The syntax is:

&PV '<' <symbol> , <base> , <width> '>'
&PV '<' <symbol> , <base_symbol> , <width> '>'
&PV '<' <symbol> , <tbase> <twid> <"s" or "u"> , <width> '>'

The <symbol> is the label for a signal, the <base> is the canonical starting bit of the part select and <width> is the number of bits in the select. The second form retrieves the <base> from the given signal or &A<>/&PV<> select. The third form retrieves the <base> from thread space using <twid> bits starting at <tbase>. The base value may be signed or unsigned.

Truth Tables

The logic that a functor represents is expressed as a truth table. The functor has four inputs and one output. Each input and output has one of four possible values (0, 1, x and z) so two bits are needed to represent them. So the input of the functor is 8 bits, and the output 2 bits. A complete lookup table for generating the 2-bit output from an 8-bit input is 512 bits. That can be packed into 64 bytes. This is small enough that the table should take less space than the code to implement the logic.

To implement the truth table, we need to assign 2-bit encodings for the 4-value signals. I choose, pseudo-randomly, the following encoding:

1'b0  : 00
1'b1  : 01
1'bx  : 10
1'bz  : 11

The table is an array of 64 bytes, each byte holding 4 2-bit outputs. Construct a 6-bit byte address with inputs 1, 2 and 3 like so:

332211

The input 0 2-bits can then be used to select which of the 4 2-bit pairs in the 8-bit byte are the output:

MSB -> zzxx1100 <- LSB

A complete truth table, then is described as 64 8-bit bytes.

The vvp engine includes truth tables for the primitive gate types, so none needs to be given by the programmer. It is sufficient to name the type to get that truth table.

Executable Instructions

Threads run executable code, much like a processor executes machine code. VVP has a variety of opcodes for executable instructions. All of those instructions start with ‘%’ and go into a single address space. Labels attached to executable instructions get assigned the address of the instruction, and can be the target of %jmp instructions and starting points for threads.

The opcodes.txt file has a more detailed description of all the various instructions.

The Relationship Between Functors, Threads And Events

Given the above summary of the major components of vvp, some description of their relationship is warranted. Functors provide a structural description of the design (so far as it can be described structurally) and these functors run independently of the threads. In particular, when an input to a functor is set, it calculates a new output value; and if that output is different from the existing output, a propagation event is created. Functor output is calculated by truth table lookup, without the aid of threads.

Propagation events are one of three kinds of events in vvp. They are scheduled to execute at some time, and they simply point to the functor that is to have its output propagated. When the event expires, the output of the referenced functor is propagated to all the inputs that it is connected to, and those functors in turn create new events if needed.

Assignment events (the second of three types of events) are created by non-blocking assignments in behavioral code. When the <= is executed (a %assign in vvp) an assign event is created, which includes the vvp_ipoint_t pointer to the functor input to receive the value, as well as the value. These are distinct from propagation events because:

  1. There is no functor that has as its output the value to be assigned (this is how values get into the functor net in the first place), and

  2. This allows for behavioral code to create waveforms of arbitrary length that feed into a variable. Verilog allows this of non-blocking assignments, but not of gate outputs.

The last type of event is the thread schedule event. This event simply points to a thread to be executed. Threads are made up of a virtual processor with a program counter and some private storage. Threads can execute %assign instructions to create assignment events, and can execute %set instructions to do blocking assignments. Threads can also use %load to read the output of functors.

The core event scheduler takes these three kinds of events and calls the right kind of code to cause things to happen in the design. If the event is a propagate or assignment event, the network of functors is tickled; if the event is a thread schedule, then a thread is run. The implementation of the event queue is not important, but currently is implemented as a skip list. That is, it is a sorted singly linked list with skip pointers that skip over delta-time events.

The functor net and the threads are distinct. They communicate through thread instructions %set, %assign, %waitfor and %load. So far as a thread is concerned, the functor net is a blob of structure that it pokes and prods via certain functor access instructions.

VVP Compilation And Execution

The vvp program operates in a few steps:

  1. Initialization

    Data structures are cleared to empty, and tables are readied for compilation.

  2. Compilation

    The input file is read and compiled. Symbol tables are build up as needed, objects are allocated and linked together.

  3. Cleanup

    Symbol tables and other resources used only for compilation are released to reduce the memory footprint.

  4. Simulation

    Event simulation is run.

The initialization step is performed by the compile_init() function in compile.cc. This function in turn calls all the *_init() functions in other parts of the source that need initialization for compile. All the various sub-init functions are called <foo>_init().

Compilation is controlled by the parser, it parse.y. As the parser reads and parses input, the compilation proceeds in the rules by calling various compile_* functions. All these functions live in the compile.cc file. Compilation calls other sections of the code as needed.

When the parser completes compilation, compile_cleanup() is called to finish the compilation process. Unresolved references are completed, then all the symbol tables and other compile-time-only resources are released. Once compile_cleanup() returns, there is no more use for the parser for the function in compile.cc.

After cleanup, the simulation is started. This is done by executing the schedule_simulate() function. This does any final setup and starts the simulation running and the event queue running.

How To Get From There To Here

The vvp simulation engine is designed to be able to take as input a compiled form of Verilog. That implies that there is a compiler that compiles Verilog into a form that the vvp engine can read.

  • Boolean logic gates

Gates like AND, OR and NAND are implemented simply and obviously by functor statements. Any logic up to 4 inputs can be implemented with a single functor. For example:

and gate (out, i1, i2, i3);

becomes:

gate    .functor and, i1, i2, i3;

Notice the first parameter of the .functor is the type. The type includes a truth table that describes the output with a given input. If the gate is wider than four inputs, then cascade functors. For example:

and gate (out, i1, i2, i3, i4, i5, i6, i7, i8);

becomes:

gate.0  .functor and, i1, i2, i3, i4;
gate.1  .functor and, i5, i6, i7, i8;
gate    .functor and, gate.0, gate.1;

  • reg and other variables

Reg and integer are cases of what Verilog calls variables. Variables are, simply put, things that behavioral code can assign to. These are not the same as nets, which include wires and the like.

Each bit of a variable is created by a .var statement. For example:

reg a;

becomes:

a       .var "a", 0, 0;

  • named events

Events in general are implemented as functors, but named events in particular have no inputs and only the event output. The way to generate code for these is like so:

a  .event "name";

This creates a functor and makes it into a mode-2 functor. Then the trigger statement, “-> a”, cause a %set a, 0; statement be generated. This is sufficient to trigger the event.

Automatically Allocated Scopes

If a .scope statement has a <type> of autofunction or autotask, the scope is flagged as being an automatically allocated scope. The functor for each variable or event declared in that scope is added to a list of items that need to be automatically allocated for each dynamic instance of that scope.

Before copying the input parameters of an automatic function or task into the scope variables, a new scope instance needs to be allocated. For function or task calls in procedural code, this is handled by the %alloc instruction. For structural function calls, this is handled by the phantom code generated by the .ufunc statement. In both cases, VVP attempts to use a previously freed scope instance - only if none are available is a new instance created.

After copying the result of an automatic function or the output parameters of an automatic task, the scope instance can be freed. For function or task calls in procedural code, this is handled by the %free instruction. For structural function calls, this is handled by the phantom code generated by the .ufunc statement. In both cases, VVP adds the instance to a list of freed instances for that scope, which allows the storage to be reused the next time a new instance is required.

For each automatically allocated scope instance, VVP creates an array of items, referred to as the scope context. Each item in this array is a pointer to the allocated storage for holding the state of one scope variable or event. The index into this array for any given variable or event, referred to as the context index, is stored in the functor associated with that variable or event.

Each VVP thread keeps track of its current write context and current read context. For threads executing in a static scope, these are both initialized to null values. For threads executing in an automatically allocated scope, these are both initialized to refer to the context allocated to that scope.

Before starting the copying of the input parameters of an automatic function or task, the current write context of the caller thread is set to the context allocated for that function/task call. After the thread that executed the function/task body has been rejoined and before starting the copying of the result or output parameters, the current write context is reset to its previous value and the current read context is set to the context allocated for the function/task call. After finishing the copying of the result or output parameters, the current read context is reset to its previous value.

When reading or writing the state of an automatically allocated variable or event, the associated functor indirects through the current read or write context of the running thread, using its stored context index.

/*
 * Copyright (c) 2001-2024 Stephen Williams (steve@icarus.com)
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