Synthesis Setup

MASC uses a unified compilation environment which requires the use of the command rake to synthesize designs. Synthesis will take your RTL and map this to a gate level netlist. Our flow is setup to run 90nm or 40nm. To synthesize your design follow the steps below:

Step 1: Create a directory, preferably named the same thing as your design top level.

        For example: if my design is named alu, 
        I would create a directory by the name of alu.

Step 2: Create an rtl directory inside the design directory.

        For example: alu/rtl

Step 3: All design rtl should reside in the rtl directory. Unless, specified by the require tag in the designs xml document. If specified in the document, the files will be automatically included in the synthesis.

        For example: alu/rtl/alu.v  alu/rtl/alu_mem.v alu/rtl/alu_fifo.v

Step 4: In the alu directory create an xml file. The xml file must have the same name as the directory.

        For example: alu/alu.xml

Step 5: The xml file must contain the following tags.

        For example:
  <project name="alu">
        <requires>common</requires>
        <requires>rnet</requires>
        <requires>storage</requires>
        <requires>retry</requires>
        <asic frequency="1400" tech="90" suite="dc"/>
        <asic base="alu"/>
        <catalyst base="alu" test=""/>
        <verify base="alu"/>
        <fpga base="alu" tool="synplify"/>
        <testbench base="alu_tb" suite="vcs">
        <CC></CC>
        <verilog>tests/</verilog>
        <tab>tests/</tab>
        <source>
        </source>
        </testbench>
        <regression target="test">alu_tb</regression>
        <regression target="asic">alu</regression>
        <regression target="fpga">alu</regression>
  </project>

Step 6: From the design directory type rake.

        For example:  (from alu/ )type "rake"
        All options for the current design should be displayed on the screen.
        
        rigo @ mada0 ~/mascrtl/projects/tapeout/alu $ rake
                     (in /mada/users/rigo/mascrtl)
                     rake all                 # Run everything!
                     rake asic:all            # Run all ASIC tasks.
                     rake asic:alu_top        # Run "alu_top" with ASIC.
                     rake catalyst:all        # Create the Catalyst directory 
                     rake catalyst:alu_top    # Create "alu_top" for Catalyst.
                     rake clean               # Remove any temporary products.
                     rake clobber             # Remove any generated file.
                     rake default             # Show a list of available tasks.
                     rake fpga:all            # Run all FPGA tasks. 
                     rake fpga:alu_top        # Run "alu_top" with "synplify" FPGA.
                     rake regression:all      # Run all regression tasks.
                     rake regression:clean    # clean all regression tasks.
                     rake regression:clobber  # clobber all regression tasks.
                     rake rverilog:all        # Create the Verilog/Ruby generated files.
                     rake test:all            # Run all test benches.
                     rake verify:all          # Run all verify tasks.
                     rake verify:alu_top      # Run "alu_top" with Formality.
                     General Options:
                     full=1         ; Let any module to be a target
                     v=1            ; Do not launch program execution
                     FPGA Options:
                     tool=num       ; synplify
                     ASIC Options:
                     tech=num       ; Technology (90, 65...)
                     frequency=num  ; Frequency in MHz (900, 140)
                     suite=string   ; ASIC suite (dc, pt, rc, soc)
                     TEST Options:
                     suite=string   ; Test suite (vsim, vcs, ncsim, gcc)
                     gui=1          ; Invoke gui for testbench (vsim, vcs)
                     console=1      ; Console Mode. (verify, dc_shell) Only with v=1.
                     do="run -all"  ; ModelSim -do line, ex do="do wave.do; run -all" (GUI Only)
                     grid=1         ; Submit testbench(s) to Sun Grid (vsim, vcs)
                     SDF=1          ; Do timing run (must compile with ASIC first)
                     SAIF=1         ; Dump a SAIF and VCD for power analysis (it could be used with SDF=1)
                     ttb=0          ; Disable automatic generation of testbench files
                     args=          ; Pass args to tb. Use Quotes to pass multiple args
                     Touch the ttb rtl file to regenerate the ttb

Step 7: Type "rake asic:alu full=1 v=1

        Output: (in /mada/users/rigo/mascrtl)
                ./dc_alu.sh

                ./dct_alu.sh

                ./dc_alu.sh

                ./dct_alu.sh

Step 8: type ./dc_alu.sh