Testcase Template - Test Creation and Setup

Introduction

The aim of this document is to explain how to create a new test archive based on the NX testcase template in order to perform Impulse steps.

Testcase template archive are available on the following link with associated commands:

Testcase Template - User Guide .

Steps

RTL sources import

The user must import all the RTL sources in the src directory.

Project Environment Variables

The 1st file to edit is project_variables.py defining all variables related to the testcase environment.

All available values for each variable are displayed when executing the following command:

nxpython nxpython_script.py -h

Top Cell

  • DefaultTopCellName: Top Cell Name of the design

  • DefaultTopCellLib: Top Cell Library of the design

Variant

  • DefaultVariant: NX chip target for the project

  • AllowedVariants: List of all NX chip targets compliant with the project

Argument

  • DefaultArgument: Argument used in sub scripts in order to launch Impulse steps with different options

  • AllowedArguments: List of all arguments that can be launch

Board

  • DefaultBoard: Board target for the potential output bitstream

  • AllowedBoards: List of all allowed boards for the project. A list must be set for each variant.

Progress

  • DefaultProgressStart: Impulse step the project must start. If not scratch,

  • DefaultProgressStop: Impulse step the project must stop

Project

  • DefaultSeed: Seed option for the Impulse placing algorithm

  • DefaultOptions: Options set to Impulse. Syntax is <name1>.<value1>_<name2>.<value2>_<…>

  • DefaultTimingDriven: Enable ('Yes') or Disable ('No') TimingDriven option for Impulse placing and routing

  • DefaultConstraints: Enable ('Yes') or Disable ('No') constraints set in sub_scripts/project_constraints.py

  • DefaultSta: Impulse steps to launch STA. Syntax is <step1>_<step2>_…

  • DefaultStaCondition: STA conditions. Last is kept for TimingDriven. Syntax is <cond1>_<cond2>_…

  • DefaultBitstream: Enable ('Yes') or Disable ('No') bitstream generation

Directory

  • DefaultSaveInputs: Enable ('Yes') or Disable ('No') scripts and sources in output project folder

Example

Hereafter an example:

#Top Cell DefaultTopCellName = 'top' DefaultTopCellLib = 'work' #Variant DefaultVariant = 'NG-MEDIUM' AllowedVariants = ['NG-MEDIUM','NG-MEDIUM-EMBEDDED','NG-LARGE'] #Argument DefaultArgument = '' AllowedArguments = ['','debug'] #Board DefaultBoard = 'DevKit' AllowedBoards = [['DevKit'],[''],['DevKit']] #Progress DefaultProgressStart= 'scratch' DefaultProgressStop = 'routed3' #Project DefaultSeed = '1789' DefaultOptions = 'DensityEffort.Medium_CongestionEffort.Low' DefaultTimingDriven = 'Yes' DefaultConstraints = 'Yes' DefaultSta = 'placed1_routed3' DefaultStaCondition = 'typical_worstcase' DefaultBitstream = 'Yes' #Directory DefaultSaveInputs = 'Yes'

Impulse project

Project Files

All design files with associate files must be defined in sub_scripts/project_files.py.

Method arguments

  • p: Impulse project variable

  • sources_files_directory: Pointer to src directory

  • variant: variant name

  • argument: script argument

Example

Hereafter an example:

from nxpython import * def add_files(p,sources_files_directory,variant,argument): p.addFile('work',sources_files_directory+'/switch_counter.vhd') p.addFile('work',sources_files_directory+'/switch.vhd')

Example using arguments

Hereafter an example using method arguments:

Project Parameters

All design top generics/parameters must be defined in sub_scripts/project_parameters.py.

Method arguments

  • p: Impulse project variable

  • variant: variant name

  • argument: script argument

Example

Hereafter an example:

Example using arguments

Hereafter an example using method arguments:

Project Options

All project options must be defined in sub_scripts/project_options.py.

Method arguments

  • p: Impulse project variable

  • variant: variant name

  • seed: Impulse seed for placing algorithm

  • options: Impulse options to be set

  • argument: script argument

Example

Hereafter an example:

Last condition must not be changed.

Example using arguments

Hereafter an example using method arguments:

Project Constraints

All project constraints must be defined in sub_scripts/project_options.py.

Method arguments

  • p: Impulse project variable

  • variant: variant name

  • argument: script argument

  • sub_step_nb: Impulse sub step index for Synthesizing([1;3]), Placing([1;5]) and Routing([1;3])

All constraints must be under sub_step_nb condition. Otherwise, constraint will be set at each sub step.

Example

Hereafter an example:

add_constraints method must not be changed.

Example using arguments

Hereafter an example using method arguments:

Project IOs

All project constraints must be defined in sub_scripts/project_ios.py.

Method arguments

  • p: Impulse project variable

  • variant: variant name

  • argument: script argument

  • board: target board to implement the bitstream

Example

Hereafter an example:

Example using arguments

Hereafter an example using method arguments:

 

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