Also when verifying arithmetic functionality, e.g. If your VHDL uses >64 bit widths, it can be tedious to interface with that in other languages. One key feature of Python that makes it so suitable is the automatic usage of big integers. Many things take much less time to program in Python than in a VHDL testbench. Python is an efficient language for writing reference models in or to process and verify output files of your testbench.
The only thing I find online about using Python for FPGA are a few packages: with myHDL being the most referenced.
Is there a reference, paper, or tutorial that shows how to do this? I've checked the Xilinx, Altera, and Modelsim websites but could not find anything. For example if I want to test a TCP/IP stack in VHDL, can I use the socket module in Python to do this (i.e.When writing a test bench in Python can you use standard Python coding/modules or just a module like myHDL? Is this done in Python using a module like myHDL and then linking/importing your VHDL file into Python? Is so, how is the timing diagram generated?.Is this done by writing a test bench in Python and then compiling this Python file or linking into Modelsim?.I have heard that instead of writing test benches in VHDL, engineers are now using Python to test there VHDL code.
Quit Modelsim.The standard way to test VHDL code logic is to write a test bench in VHDL and utilize a simulator like ModelSim which, I have done numerous times. At this point, I'm assuming that everything works as expected and we now want to program our chip. This is just to show you how things actually work. You also should do much, much more simulating that what is here. You'll have to look very closely at your output to see that things are actually working as expected. You'll then have to play around with the zoom on the window to get it so that you can see the clock and the results. This is going to be much too short, so change the length to 10000 ps and click run. Then drag all the objects (button1, button4, led1, etc.) in the Objects window to the Wave window so that they will be plotted.Ĭlick the Run Simulation button to run the simulation for 100ps. Just make a clock on button1 to simulate pushing the button Map the ports from the dut to this testbench dut = device under test (same name as top project from Quartus) Create an implementation of the entityĪrchitecture testbench1 of test_counter_3bit is Here is the text for a very simple testbench. So create a new one, File -> New -> Source -> VHDL We need to create a testbench to use to simulate the project. It will be in the work library when finished. Work is the default name and is fine.Ĭompile the counter_3bit.vho file. Select the simulation/modelsim directory that is inside your project directory. Start Modelsim and do File -> Change Directory We will use Modelsim-Altera to perform a functional simulation. Start the pin planner.ĭouble-click in the location to either select or type in the pins.Īfter assigning pins, recompile the project! Successful compilation will give this window. If you get errors, read through them to try to figure out the problem. Do not check the "Run gate-level simulation automatically after compilation" box.Ĭompile the project (click the purple triangle). Go to Assignments -> Settings and select Modelsim-Altera in the Tool name field. So we need to tell Quartus to generate the files needed by Modelsim. Later, we are going to use Modelsim to simulate our project. Use the 'Orthogonal Node Tool' to connect the parts so that your block diagram looks the same as the one below. The block diagram should now look something like this. Repeat, but this time place two input pins. Find the tff, you'll want to place three in your block diagram. Click the Symbol Tool (located next to the A in the top bar of the block diagram) to bring up the symbol window. We need to place parts in our block diagram. Family: Max II, Device: EPM2210F324C3 and click FINISH.įile -> New and choose "Block Diagram/Schematic File" from the window that comes up. Hint, don't start the name with a number.Ĭhoose the device on our board. After starting Quartus, do File -> New Project Wizard