Learn how to troubleshoot and debug your HDL-based ASIC design and verification process using various tools to simulate, debug, lint, verify, test, and log your HDL code.

Adding assertions to testbenches useful as it catches issues before the bug is identified. One other technique I really like is formal verification using jaspers (now cadence's tools). It takes a while to set up (mainly constraining the design but it offers a great way to identify a bug before it appears especially in cases where its a corner case bug that takes hours or days to show up..

How do you troubleshoot and debug your HDL-based ASIC when you encounter errors or issues?

Designing and implementing an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is a complex and challenging task that requires a high level of skill and expertise in hardware description languages (HDLs), such as Verilog or VHDL. However, even the most experienced and meticulous engineers can encounter errors or issues in their HDL-based ASIC projects, such as syntax errors, logic errors, timing violations, or functional mismatches. Here are some tips and techniques that can help you find and fix the bugs in your ASIC design and verification process.

1 Simulators

One of the most essential tools for troubleshooting and debugging your HDL-based ASIC is a simulator, which allows you to test and verify the behavior and functionality of your design before you synthesize it to a physical device. A simulator can help you catch syntax errors, logic errors, and functional mismatches in your HDL code, as well as simulate the inputs and outputs of your design under different scenarios and conditions.

You can use a simulator to run various types of simulations, such as functional simulation, timing simulation, power simulation, or fault simulation, depending on your design objectives and requirements. You can also use it to generate waveforms, traces, and reports that can help you analyze and debug your design.

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Brad B.

Sr. RTL Design & Verification
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Even with the best tools, we need to ensure that the verification is isolated from design. Commonly if the designer also designs the simulation testbench, the only thing that is getting verified is the designer's interpretation of the requirements. The same mismatches are designed into the design and the testbench equate to the verification passing !

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2 Debuggers

A debugger allows you to inspect and modify the state and values of your design variables, signals, and registers during simulation. A debugger can help you identify and isolate the sources of errors or issues in your design, as well as perform various debugging operations, such as setting breakpoints, stepping through the code, watching expressions, or evaluating conditions.

Use a debugger to interact with your design at different levels of abstraction, such as behavioral, structural, or gate-level, depending on your design complexity and granularity. You can also use it to integrate with other tools, such as simulators, synthesizers, or analyzers, to enhance your debugging capabilities and efficiency.

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3 Linting tools

A linting tool is a software tool that checks your HDL code for potential errors, issues, or violations of coding standards, conventions, or best practices. It can help you improve the quality, readability, and maintainability of your HDL code, as well as avoid common pitfalls or mistakes that can lead to bugs or issues in your HDL-based ASIC. A linting tool can perform various types of checks, such as syntax checks, semantic checks, style checks, or rule checks, depending on your design specifications and guidelines.

You can use a linting tool to scan your HDL code for errors or issues before or after simulation, as well as generate reports or recommendations that can help you correct or optimize your code.

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Suganya G

Ex Synopsys | Python | Data Analytics | Data Visualization | Generative AI
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Linting Tools help in early bug detection and errors like uninitialized signals, unused ports & variables, port mismatches etc. Linting enforces coding guidelines & industry-standard coding practices and conventions for signal naming. It also identifies synthesis-simulation mismatched constructs, timing issues & race conditions. Advanced linting tools offer project tailored coding practices and even complexity analysis. Once design is ready the tool setup is done and customized according to requirements. The tool then analyzes the code for errors and generates reports. These reports are then reviewed and corresponding changes are made before proceeding to next stage of verification.

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4 Formal verification tools

A formal verification tool is a software tool that uses mathematical methods and techniques to prove or disprove the correctness or equivalence of your HDL design against a set of specifications or properties. It can verify the functionality, performance, or security of your HDL-based ASIC, as well as detect and eliminate errors or issues that are hard to find or replicate by simulation or testing. A formal verification tool can perform various types of verification, such as property checking, equivalence checking, or model checking, depending on your design goals and challenges.

You can use a formal verification tool to verify your HDL design at different stages of development, such as pre-synthesis, post-synthesis, or post-layout, as well as generate proofs or counterexamples that can help you validate or debug your design.

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5 Testing tools

A testing tool is a software tool that allows you to generate, apply, and monitor test cases or stimuli to your HDL design during simulation or emulation. It can help you test and validate the functionality, reliability, or robustness of your HDL-based ASIC, as well as uncover and resolve errors or issues that may arise in different operating environments or conditions. A testing tool can perform various types of testing, such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing, or regression testing, depending on your design scope and coverage.

You can use a testing tool to create and manage test cases or stimuli based on your design specifications or requirements, as well as generate test results or metrics that can help you evaluate or debug your design.

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6 Logging tools

A logging tool is a software tool that allows you to record, store, and analyze information or data related to your HDL design during simulation, emulation, or debugging. A logging tool can help you track and monitor the status, progress, or performance of your HDL-based ASIC, as well as identify and diagnose errors or issues that may occur in your design process or output. A logging tool can perform various types of logging, such as error logging, event logging, trace logging, or performance logging, depending on your design needs and preferences. You can use a logging tool to capture and display information or data from your HDL code, simulator, debugger, or other tools, as well as generate logs or reports that can help you analyze or debug your design.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Dinker Patel

Principal Digital Design (Asic) Engineer at Masimo
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Adding assertions to testbenches useful as it catches issues before the bug is identified. One other technique I really like is formal verification using jaspers (now cadence's tools). It takes a while to set up (mainly constraining the design but it offers a great way to identify a bug before it appears especially in cases where its a corner case bug that takes hours or days to show up..

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Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC)

How do you troubleshoot and debug your HDL-based ASIC when you encounter errors or issues?

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1 Simulators

2 Debuggers

3 Linting tools

4 Formal verification tools

5 Testing tools

6 Logging tools

7 Here’s what else to consider

Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC)

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