VHDL reference material

Contents

  • Using Cadence VHDL on CSEE machine
  • Compact Summary of VHDL
  • Printable Compact Summary of VHDL
  • Sample VHDL code
  • VHDL-handbook.pdf
  • VHDL designers guide
  • VHDL Cookbook in PostScript
  • GHDL Download free VHDL compiler and simulator
  • Download free VHDL compiler and simulator
  • VHDL intro by Francis Bruno in PostScript
  • VHDL project by Francis Bruno in PostScript
  • VCOMP/VSIM from University of Pittsburgh
  • Using FTL Systems Exploration VHDL
  • VHDL standard packages and types
  • FPGA and other CAD information
  • Draft of IEEE Standard VHDL Language
  • Other Links

    • Using Cadence VHDL on CSEE machine

      First: You must have an account on a GL machine. Every student
         and faculty should have this.
         Either log in directly to cadence1.cs.umbc.edu or
         Use   ssh  cadence1.cs.umbc.edu

         Be in your login directory, else some files need changing.
         You can copy many sample files to your working directory using:
         cp /afs/umbc.edu/users/s/q/squire/pub/download/cs411.tar  .
         There are many files available.

  Next:  Follow instructions exactly or you figure out a variation.
  1)     Get this tar file into your home directory (on /afs  i.e.
         available on all GL machines.)
         cs411.tar   and then type commands:
         cp /afs/umbc.edu/users/s/q/squire/pub/download/cs411.tar  .
         tar -xvf cs411.tar
         cd vhdl
         mv Makefile.cadence Makefile
         tcsh
         source vhdl_cshrc
         make
         more add32_test.out
         make clean              # saves a lot of disk quota

         Then do your own thing with Makefile for other VHDL files

  2)     The manual, step by step method (same results as above)
         Be in your home directory.
         mkdir vhdl                 # for your source code  .vhdl  .vhd
         cd vhdl
         mkdir vhdl_lib             # your WORK library, keep hands off
         
         You now need to get the following 6 files into you  vhdl  directory:
         vhdl_cshrc
         cds.lib      change $HOME to your path if needed
         hdl.var
         Makefile.cadence    for first test
         add32_test.vhdl     for first test
         add32_test.run       for first test


         Make the following modification to  cds.lib :
         Edit and replace $HOME  with the specific path to your home if needed
         directory.  e.g.  /home/grad4/auser12

         mv Makefile.cadence  Makefile
         # Run the test run:
         source  vhdl_cshrc
         make                        # should be no error messages
         more  add32_test.out        # it should have VHDL simulation output
         make clean

         You are on your own to write VHDL and modify the Makefile.
         Remember each time you log on:
         cd vhdl
         tcsh
         source vhdl_cshrc
         make                        # or do your own thing.

  The above is the latest generation Cadence "ncvhdl, nceval, ncsim"

    GHDL

      You can download a free VHDL system form ghdl.free.fr
  Follow the instructions for Windows, Linux or MAC OSX

  We have tried to get the Linux version onto linux.gl.umbc but
  have been unsucessful, it has been installed on personal Linux
  machines using root password and installing into /usr/local tree.

  The Windows version is a little different, yet it works.

  For CMSC 411, you need to do a little extra because GHDL does
  not default with some IEEE packages we use.


Using GHDL on your home PC in windows:

Download GHDL from ghdl.free.fr/download.html
   click on "installer"
After installing, control panel -> system -> advanced -> 
      environment variables -> user variables, path, edit
      Add to your user path  ;C:\"program files"\Ghdl\bin

From a Command prompt window type or use add32_test.bat

rem use GHDL to analyze, elaborate and run add32_test.vhdl
ghdl -a --ieee=synopsys add32.vhdl
ghdl -a --ieee=synopsys add32_test.vhdl
ghdl -e --ieee=synopsys add32_test
ghdl -r --ieee=synopsys add32_test --stop-time=160ns > add32_test.out

Look at file add32_test.out with your favorite editor.

The 160ns is found in the file add32_test.run

On Ubuntu, sudo apt-get install ghdl
to install ghdl.
A Makefile_ghdl compiles first test
and HW4 add32 and part1_start. You can do project with this ghdl.

The "diff" command on Windows is "fc", ignore the few lines at
beginning and end of comparison of .chk files.

    Using FTL Systems Exploration VHDL

      First: Read Appendix H of Ashenden's book, p723
         The steps are: load the CD, make a registration file,
         EMail the file, get back a license file, download the
         VHDL analyzer/compiler and simulator.

  Then:  Follow the Quick Start Guide on page 728.

    VHDL Cookbook (PostScript files)

      The following eight PostScript files provide an introduction to VHDL

      The above is by Peter Ashenden who now has an updated version out
  as books: "The Student's Guide to VHDL" ISBN 1-55860-520-7  and
  "The Designer's Guide to VHDL" second edition ISBN 1-55860-674-2

  Examples of VHDL from Ashenden's Designer's Guide are here

    Download free VHDL compiler and simulator 

      This is how I downloaded and installed a free VHDL compiler
  and simulator on Windows and Linux systems. It is not 100%
  compatible with Cadence, Cadence allows a few non standard constructs,
  but it works on many circuits and features.

  Using browser: www.symphonyeda.com/proddownloads.htm

  Choose  Windows ~9.3MB  or
          Linux   ~9.3MB

  Execute the Windows file, choose 'setup' and follow instructions

  untar the Linux version and follow instructions

  For CMSC 411 the project check files are  .chks  for this VHDL.

    VHDL intro by Francis Bruno (PostScript files)

      The following four PostScript files provide
  Francis Bruno's  introduction to VHDL

    VHDL project by Francis Bruno (PostScript files)

      The following four PostScript files plus index and .tar.gz
  files provide Francis Bruno's VHDL project.

    VCOMP/VSIM from PITT (PostScript file)

      The following PostScript file provides an introduction to VHDL
  and instructions for compiling and simulating using vcomp/vsim.

    FPGA and other CAD information 

    You can get working chips from VHDL using synthesis tools.

One of the quickest ways to get chips is to use FPGA's,
Field Programmable Gate Arrays.
The two companies listed below provide the software and the
foundry for you to design your own integrated circuit chips:

 www.altera.com 

 www.xilinx.com 

Complete Computer Aided Design, CAD, packages are available from
companies such as Cadence, Mentor Graphics and Synopsis.

    Draft of IEEE Standard VHDL Language 

     Draft 2000/D3 HERE

    Other Links

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    Last updated 2/5/09