Cadence的NC/NCsim是native compiled simlator的意思,在之前一篇博客里介绍了native的意思,那么ncsim中的compile是什么意思呢?
从文献[1]可以知道,verilog仿真器主要有如下两种:编译型和解释型两种。
- Compiled Simulator : This kind of simulator converts the whole Verilog code into machine dependent code and then runs the simulation. Example : VCS generates the binary file, which can be run from the command prompt. Compiled simulators are very fast.
- Interpreted Simulator : This kind of simulator executes line by line, thus is very slow compared to a compiled simulator. Verilog-XL is one such simulator.
从文献[2]和[3]可以知道,目前的big 3:ncsim中的NC-Verilog、vcs和modelsim都是compiled Verilog simulator。Interpreted Simulator是一行一行地解释执行。
两者比较而言,Compiled Simulator 比 Interpreted Simulator 有更快的仿真速度。从文献[4]和[5]可以看出可能快出超过100倍。
此外,Verilog simulator也可以分为cycle based simulator 和 activity driven simulator两种类型 [5]。留在后面有机会再展开。
参考文献:
[1] http://www.asic-world.com/verilog/verifaq3.html
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_HDL_simulators
[3] https://web.stanford.edu/class/ee183/handouts_win2003/Modelsim_short_tutorial.pdf
[4] http://www.veripool.org/wiki/verilator
[5] http://www.veripool.org/wiki/veripool/Verilog_Simulator_Benchmarks
个人理解, 欢迎方家们批评指正.