mirror of https://github.com/YosysHQ/yosys.git
Merge pull request #33 from bentley/dox
Typos and grammar fixes through chapter 2.
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d18c10d991
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@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ and how they relate to different kinds of synthesis.
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Regardless of the way a lower level representation of a circuit is
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Regardless of the way a lower level representation of a circuit is
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obtained (synthesis or manual design), the lower level representation is usually
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obtained (synthesis or manual design), the lower level representation is usually
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verified by comparing simulation results of the lower level and the higher level
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verified by comparing simulation results of the lower level and the higher level
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representation \footnote{In the last years formal equivalence
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representation \footnote{In recent years formal equivalence
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checking also became an important verification method for validating RTL and
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checking also became an important verification method for validating RTL and
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lower abstraction representation of the design.}.
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lower abstraction representation of the design.}.
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Therefore even if no synthesis is used, there must still be a simulatable
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Therefore even if no synthesis is used, there must still be a simulatable
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@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ be considered a ``High-Level Language'' today.
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\subsection{System Level}
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\subsection{System Level}
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The System Level abstraction of a system only looks at its biggest building
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The System Level abstraction of a system only looks at its biggest building
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blocks like CPUs and computing cores. On this level the circuit is usually described
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blocks like CPUs and computing cores. At this level the circuit is usually described
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using traditional programming languages like C/C++ or Matlab. Sometimes special
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using traditional programming languages like C/C++ or Matlab. Sometimes special
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software libraries are used that are aimed at simulation circuits on the system
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software libraries are used that are aimed at simulation circuits on the system
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level, such as SystemC.
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level, such as SystemC.
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@ -177,9 +177,9 @@ synthesis operations.
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\subsection{Logical Gate Level}
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\subsection{Logical Gate Level}
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On the logical gate level the design is represented by a netlist that uses only
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At the logical gate level the design is represented by a netlist that uses only
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cells from a small number of single-bit cells, such as basic logic gates (AND,
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cells from a small number of single-bit cells, such as basic logic gates (AND,
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OR, NOT, XOR, etc.) and Registers (usually D-Type Flip-flops).
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OR, NOT, XOR, etc.) and registers (usually D-Type Flip-flops).
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A number of netlist formats exists that can be used on this level, e.g.~the Electronic Design
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A number of netlist formats exists that can be used on this level, e.g.~the Electronic Design
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Interchange Format (EDIF), but for ease of simulation often a HDL netlist is used. The latter
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Interchange Format (EDIF), but for ease of simulation often a HDL netlist is used. The latter
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@ -191,8 +191,8 @@ within the gate level netlist and second the optimal (or at least good) mapping
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gate netlist to an equivalent netlist of physically available gate types.
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gate netlist to an equivalent netlist of physically available gate types.
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The simplest approach to logic synthesis is {\it two-level logic synthesis}, where a logic function
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The simplest approach to logic synthesis is {\it two-level logic synthesis}, where a logic function
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is converted into a sum-of-products representation, e.g.~using a karnaugh map.
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is converted into a sum-of-products representation, e.g.~using a Karnaugh map.
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This is a simple approach, but has exponential worst-case effort and can not make efficient use of
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This is a simple approach, but has exponential worst-case effort and cannot make efficient use of
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physical gates other than AND/NAND-, OR/NOR- and NOT-Gates.
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physical gates other than AND/NAND-, OR/NOR- and NOT-Gates.
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Therefore modern logic synthesis tools utilize much more complicated {\it multi-level logic
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Therefore modern logic synthesis tools utilize much more complicated {\it multi-level logic
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@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ applications to be used with a richer set of Verilog features.
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\subsection{Behavioural Modelling}
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\subsection{Behavioural Modelling}
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Code that utilizes the Verilog {\tt always} statement is using {\it Behavioural
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Code that utilizes the Verilog {\tt always} statement is using {\it Behavioural
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Modelling}. In behavioural, modelling a circuit is described by means of imperative
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Modelling}. In behavioural modelling, a circuit is described by means of imperative
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program code that is executed on certain events, namely any change, a rising
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program code that is executed on certain events, namely any change, a rising
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edge, or a falling edge of a signal. This is a very flexible construct during
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edge, or a falling edge of a signal. This is a very flexible construct during
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simulation but is only synthesizable when one of the following is modelled:
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simulation but is only synthesizable when one of the following is modelled:
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@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ Correctness is crucial. In some areas this is obvious (such as
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correct synthesis of basic behavioural models). But it is also crucial for the
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correct synthesis of basic behavioural models). But it is also crucial for the
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areas that concern minor details of the standard, such as the exact rules
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areas that concern minor details of the standard, such as the exact rules
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for handling signed expressions, even when the HDL code does not target
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for handling signed expressions, even when the HDL code does not target
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different synthesis tools. This is because (different to software source code that
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different synthesis tools. This is because (unlike software source code that
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is only processed by compilers), in most design flows HDL code is not only
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is only processed by compilers), in most design flows HDL code is not only
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processed by the synthesis tool but also by one or more simulators and sometimes
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processed by the synthesis tool but also by one or more simulators and sometimes
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even a formal verification tool. It is key for this verification process
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even a formal verification tool. It is key for this verification process
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@ -467,9 +467,9 @@ that all these tools use the same interpretation for the HDL code.
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Generally it is hard to give a one-dimensional description of how well a synthesis tool
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Generally it is hard to give a one-dimensional description of how well a synthesis tool
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optimizes the design. First of all because not all optimizations are applicable to all
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optimizes the design. First of all because not all optimizations are applicable to all
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designs and all synthesis tasks. Some optimizations work (best) on a coarse grain level
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designs and all synthesis tasks. Some optimizations work (best) on a coarse-grained level
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(with complex cells such as adders or multipliers) and others work (best) on a fine
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(with complex cells such as adders or multipliers) and others work (best) on a fine-grained
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grain level (single bit gates). Some optimizations target area and others target speed.
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level (single bit gates). Some optimizations target area and others target speed.
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Some work well on large designs while others don't scale well and can only be applied
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Some work well on large designs while others don't scale well and can only be applied
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to small designs.
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to small designs.
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@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ The lexer is usually generated by a lexer generator (e.g.~{\tt flex} \citeweblin
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description file that is using regular expressions to specify the text pattern that should match
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description file that is using regular expressions to specify the text pattern that should match
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the individual tokens.
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the individual tokens.
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The lexer is also responsible for skipping ignored characters (such as white spaces outside string
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The lexer is also responsible for skipping ignored characters (such as whitespace outside string
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constants and comments in the case of Verilog) and converting the original text snippet to a token
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constants and comments in the case of Verilog) and converting the original text snippet to a token
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value.
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value.
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@ -714,11 +714,11 @@ be connected in two different ways: through {\it Single-Pass Pipelining} and by
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Traditionally a parser and lexer are connected using the pipelined approach: The lexer provides a function that
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Traditionally a parser and lexer are connected using the pipelined approach: The lexer provides a function that
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is called by the parser. This function reads data from the input until a complete lexical token has been read. Then
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is called by the parser. This function reads data from the input until a complete lexical token has been read. Then
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this token is returned to the parser. So the lexer does not first generate a complete list of lexical tokens
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this token is returned to the parser. So the lexer does not first generate a complete list of lexical tokens
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and then passes it to the parser. Instead they are running concurrently and the parser can consume tokens as
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and then pass it to the parser. Instead they run concurrently and the parser can consume tokens as
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the lexer produces them.
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the lexer produces them.
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The single-pass pipelining approach has the advantage of lower memory footprint (at no time the complete design
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The single-pass pipelining approach has the advantage of lower memory footprint (at no time must the complete design
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must be kept in memory) but has the disadvantage of tighter coupling between the interacting components.
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be kept in memory) but has the disadvantage of tighter coupling between the interacting components.
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Therefore single-pass pipelining should only be used when the lower memory footprint is required or the
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Therefore single-pass pipelining should only be used when the lower memory footprint is required or the
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components are also conceptually tightly coupled. The latter certainly is the case for a parser and its lexer.
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components are also conceptually tightly coupled. The latter certainly is the case for a parser and its lexer.
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@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ researched field. All the information required to write such tools has been open
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available for a long time, and it is therefore likely that a FOSS HDL synthesis tool
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available for a long time, and it is therefore likely that a FOSS HDL synthesis tool
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with a feature-complete Verilog or VHDL front end must exist which can be used as a basis for a custom RTL synthesis tool.
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with a feature-complete Verilog or VHDL front end must exist which can be used as a basis for a custom RTL synthesis tool.
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Due to the authors preference for Verilog over VHDL it has been decided early
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Due to the author's preference for Verilog over VHDL it was decided early
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on to go for Verilog instead of VHDL\footnote{A quick investigation into FOSS
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on to go for Verilog instead of VHDL\footnote{A quick investigation into FOSS
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VHDL tools yielded similar grim results for FOSS VHDL synthesis tools.}.
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VHDL tools yielded similar grim results for FOSS VHDL synthesis tools.}.
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So the existing FOSS Verilog synthesis tools were evaluated (see
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So the existing FOSS Verilog synthesis tools were evaluated (see
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@ -56,12 +56,12 @@ is discussed in this document.
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\section{Structure of this Document}
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\section{Structure of this Document}
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The structure of this document is a follows:
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The structure of this document is as follows:
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Chapter~\ref{chapter:intro} is this introduction.
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Chapter~\ref{chapter:intro} is this introduction.
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Chapter~\ref{chapter:basics} covers a short introduction to the world of HDL
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Chapter~\ref{chapter:basics} covers a short introduction to the world of HDL
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synthesis. Basic principles and the terminology is outlined in this chapter.
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synthesis. Basic principles and the terminology are outlined in this chapter.
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Chapter~\ref{chapter:approach} gives the quickest possible outline to how the
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Chapter~\ref{chapter:approach} gives the quickest possible outline to how the
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problem of implementing a HDL synthesis tool is approached in the case of
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problem of implementing a HDL synthesis tool is approached in the case of
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@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ Yosys source code. The chapter concludes with an example loadable module
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for Yosys.
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for Yosys.
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Chapters~\ref{chapter:verilog}, \ref{chapter:opt}, and \ref{chapter:techmap}
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Chapters~\ref{chapter:verilog}, \ref{chapter:opt}, and \ref{chapter:techmap}
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cover three improtant pieces of the synthesis pileline: The Verilog frontend,
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cover three important pieces of the synthesis pipeline: The Verilog frontend,
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the optimization passes and the technology mapping to the target architecture,
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the optimization passes and the technology mapping to the target architecture,
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respectively.
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respectively.
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@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ bookmarksopen=false%
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\eject
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\eject
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\chapter*{Abstract}
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\chapter*{Abstract}
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Most of todays digital design is done in HDL code (mostly Verilog or VHDL) and
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Most of today's digital design is done in HDL code (mostly Verilog or VHDL) and
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with the help of HDL synthesis tools.
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with the help of HDL synthesis tools.
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In special cases such as synthesis for coarse-grain cell libraries or when
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In special cases such as synthesis for coarse-grain cell libraries or when
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@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ by Yosys to perform advanced gate-level optimizations.
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An evaluation of Yosys based on real-world designs is included. It is shown
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An evaluation of Yosys based on real-world designs is included. It is shown
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that Yosys can be used as-is to synthesize such designs. The results produced
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that Yosys can be used as-is to synthesize such designs. The results produced
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by Yosys in this tests where successflly verified using formal verification
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by Yosys in this tests where successflly verified using formal verification
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and are compareable in quality to the results produced by a commercial
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and are comparable in quality to the results produced by a commercial
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synthesis tool.
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synthesis tool.
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\bigskip
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\bigskip
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