What is VHDL?
VHDL (VHSIC Hardware Description Language) is a powerful hardware description language used for designing and simulating digital systems, such as FPGAs (Field- Programmable Gate Arrays) and ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits), according to Aldec, (2025). It enables engineers to describe the behavior, structure, and functionality of digital circuits at various levels of abstraction, from high-level algorithms to low-level gate implementations. Widely adopted in the semiconductor industry, VHDL is known for its robust syntax and support for complex modeling, making it an essential tool for designing reliable and efficient hardware systems.
Benefits of VHDL
VHDL offers numerous benefits that make it an indispensable tool for hardware design and verification, as highlighted by Aldec, (2025). Its versatility allows engineers to model digital systems at multiple levels of abstraction, from system-level descriptions to detailed gate-level implementations. VHDL promotes design reusability through modular structures, enabling efficient development and scalability of complex systems. With its strong typing and rigorous syntax, VHDL helps identify errors early in the design process, enhancing reliability. Additionally, its compatibility with simulation tools ensures thorough testing before hardware implementation, making it a valuable asset for FPGA and ASIC development in critical applications.
Why Choose VHDL?
VHDL offers several advantages that make it an ideal choice for hardware design and verification, as mentioned by ALSE and Cuzeau, (2005). Its standardized syntax and rigorous structure ensure reliability and precision in digital system modeling. Whether you’re working on simple unit tests or complex system-level designs, VHDL’s scalability makes it adaptable to various applications. VHDL’s strong typing and compatibility with industry-standard simulation tools provide a robust framework for error detection and testing, improving the efficiency and accuracy of your verification process. Additionally, VHDL’s long-standing use in the industry ensures a wealth of resources and community support, making it a trusted language for FPGA and ASIC development.
Introduction to VH/26990 Verification Methodology
The VH/26990 verification methodology, presented by LP Lewis of SynthWorks, is a widely adopted approach for enhancing VHDL verification processes, according to Lewis, (2024). With over 30 years of expertise in VHDL design and verification, Lewis emphasized the importance of this methodology in streamlining and improving testing efficiency. VH/26990 offers a structured framework that simplifies testbench creation, integrates reusable components, and automates testing, reducing errors and accelerating project timelines.
Addressing Common Verification Challenges
Verification accounts for 40-50% of project time, with a significant portion of FPGA projects encountering critical bugs, as mentioned by Lewis, (2024). VH/26990 addresses these challenges through transactions, abstracting, and simplifying test case development. This approach reduces the brute force nature of traditional testing and makes testbenches more readable and less error-prone. VH/26990 ensures rigorous testing for safety-critical projects by focusing on functional coverage and self- checking mechanisms.
Comprehensive Verification Framework
The VH/26990 framework mirrors System Verilog in structure, with reusable verification components implementing interface signaling, as highlighted by Lewis, (2024). Each test case is built as a separate architecture, enabling concurrency and robust capability. The methodology’s Model Independent Transaction Library (MIT) standardizes transaction interfaces across various protocols, streamlining test creation and enhancing component reuse across different testing levels, from RTL to system-level verification.
Test Automation and Reporting
Test automation in VH/26990 leverages TCL-based scripting, enabling seamless integration with multiple simulators like GHDL, Aldec, and Synopsys VCS, as emphasized by Lewis, (2024). This capability simplifies regression testing and ensures consistent results across platforms. Detailed test reports, generated in HTML and XML formats, provide clear pass/fail indicators and integrate with continuous integration tools. The End of Test Reports feature consolidates test results, offering a comprehensive summary of affirmations, alerts, and coverage metrics.
Benefits and Adoption of VH/26990
VH/26990 stands out for its readability, reuse, and flexibility, making it accessible to any VHDL engineer, as noted by Lewis, (2024). Its transaction-based methodology
supports directed and constrained random testing, providing powerful capabilities that rival other verification languages. With extensive resources on GitHub and tailored training offered by SynthWorks, engineers can incrementally adopt VH/26990 to enhance their verification processes while ensuring robust and reliable designs.
Note: For those interested in the latest advancements in verification technologies, the FPGA Verification Event 2025 (Verification Futures UK) offers an excellent opportunity to gain insights into cutting-edge verification practices.
References
Aldec. (2025). Open Source VHDL Verification Methodology (OSVVM) – Functional Verification – Solutions – ALDEC.
https://www.aldec.com/en/solutions/functional_verification/osvvm
ALSE, & Cuzeau, B. (2005). VHDL Design Rules & Coding Style. http://www.alse- fr.com
Lewis. (2024). SynthWorks – Why should our team be using VHDL+OSVVM for verification. In https://alpinumconsulting.com/fpga-front-runner-sep24/.
