OpenFPGA/docs/source/manual/file_formats/bitstream_setting.rst

.. _file_formats_bitstream_setting:

Bitstream Setting (.xml)
------------------------

An example of bitstream settings is shown as follows.
This can define a hard-coded bitstream for a reconfigurable resource in FPGA fabrics.

.. warning:: Bitstream setting is a feature for power-users. It may cause wrong bitstream to be generated. For example, the hard-coded bitstream is not compatible with LUTs whose nets may be swapped during routing stage (cause a change on the truth table as well as bitstream). It is users's responsibility to ensure correct bitstream.

.. code-block:: xml

  <openfpga_bitstream_setting>
    <pb_type name="<string>" source="eblif" content=".param LUT" is_mode_select_bistream="true" bitstream_offset="1"/>
    <interconnect name="<string>" default_path="<string>"/>
    <non_fabric name="<string>" file="<string>">
      <pb name="<string>" type="<string>" content="<string>"/>
    </non_fabric>
    <bit value="<0 or 1>" path="<string>"/>
  </openfpga_bitstream_setting>

pb_type-related Settings
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The following syntax are applicable to the XML definition tagged by ``pb_type`` in bitstream setting files.

.. option:: name="<string>"

  The ``pb_type`` name to be constrained, which should be the full path of a ``pb_type`` consistent with VPR's architecture description. For example, 

  .. code-block:: xml

    pb_type="clb.fle[arithmetic].soft_adder.adder_lut4"

.. option:: source="<string>"

  The source of the ``pb_type`` bitstream, which could be from a ``.eblif`` file. For example, 

  .. code-block:: xml

    source="eblif"

.. option:: content="<string>"

  The content of the ``pb_type`` bitstream, which could be a keyword in a ``.eblif`` file. For example, ``content=".attr LUT"`` means that the bitstream will be extracted from the ``.attr LUT`` line which is defined under the ``.blif model`` (that is defined under the ``pb_type`` in VPR architecture file).

.. option:: is_mode_select_bitstream="<bool>"

  Can be either ``true`` or ``false``. When set ``true``, the bitstream is considered as mode-selection bitstream, which may overwrite ``mode_bits`` definition in ``pb_type_annotation`` of OpenFPGA architecture description. (See details in :ref:`annotate_vpr_arch_pb_type_annotation`)

.. option:: bitstream_offset="<int>"

  Specify the offset to be applied when overloading the bitstream to a target. For example, a LUT may have a 16-bit bitstream. When ``offset=1``, bitstream overloading will skip the first bit and start from the second bit of the 16-bit bitstream.

Interconnection-related Settings
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The following syntax are applicable to the XML definition tagged by ``interconnect`` in bitstream setting files.

.. option:: name="<string>"

  The ``interconnect`` name to be constrained, which should be the full path of a ``pb_type`` consistent with VPR's architecture description. For example, 
  
  .. code-block:: xml

    pb_type="clb.fle[arithmetic].mux1"

.. option:: default_path="<string>"

  The default path denotes an input name that is consistent with VPR's architecture description. For example, in VPR architecture, there is a mux defined as 

  .. code-block:: xml

    <mux name="mux1" input="iopad.inpad ff.Q" output="io.inpad"/>

  The default path can be either ``iopad.inpad`` or ``ff.Q`` which corresponds to the first input and the second input respectively.

non_fabric-related Settings
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is special syntax to extract PB defined parameter or attribute and save the data into dedicated JSON file outside of fabric bitstream

The following syntax are applicable to the XML definition tagged by ``non_fabric`` in bitstream setting files.

.. option:: name="<string: pb_type top level name>"

  The ``pb_type`` top level name that the data to be extracted. For example, 

  .. code-block:: xml

    name="bram"

.. option:: file="<string: JSON filepath>"

  The filepath the data is saved to. For example, 

  .. code-block:: xml

    file="bram.json"

.. option:: pb child element name="<string: pb_type child name>"

  Together with ``pb_type`` top level name, that is the source of the ``pb_type`` bitstream

  The final ``pb_type`` name is "<pb_type top level name>" + "<pb_type child name>"

  For example,

  .. code-block:: xml  
    <non_fabric name="bram" file="bram_bitstream.json">
      <pb name=".bram_lr[mem_36K_tdp].mem_36K" content=".param INIT_i"/>
    </non_fabric>

  The final ``pb_type`` name is "bram.bram_lr[mem_36K_tdp].mem_36K"

.. option:: pb child element content="<string>"

  The content of the ``pb_type`` data to be extracted. For example, ``content=".param INIT_i"`` means that the data will be extracted from the ``.param INIT_i`` line defined under the ``.blif model``.

bit-related Settings
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is to allow user to set particular bit using full path in the hierarchy of FPGA fabric

The following syntax are applicable to the XML definition tagged by ``bit`` in bitstream setting files.

.. option:: value="<0 or 1>"

  The boolean ``0`` or ``1`` that will be set. For example, 

  .. code-block:: xml

    value="0"
    
.. option:: path="<string>"

  ``path`` represents the location of this block in FPGA fabric, i.e., the full path in the hierarchy of FPGA fabric.

  .. code-block:: xml

    path="fpga_top.grid_clb_1__2_.logical_tile_clb_mode_clb__0.mem_fle_9_in_5[0]"