GHDL

{{ infobox software | name = GHDL | logo = | screenshot = | caption = GHDL, operated via the command line | developer = Tristan Gingold | latest_release_version = 0.26 | latest_release_date = 9 April 2007 | operating_system = Linux | genre = Compiler, Simulator | license = GNU General Public License | website = http://ghdl.free.fr/ }}

GHDL is a complete free software simulator for VHDL using GCC technology. The VHDL language is implemented according to the IEEE 1076-1987 or the IEEE 1076-1993 standard. IT Works by compiling VHDL files into a binary which simulates (or executes) the design. Some have already reported GHDL has (in a few cases) better implementation of standards than some commercial simulators. However, GHDL does not do synthesis and it cannot translate a design into a netlist.

Features

• GHDL implements the VHDL87 (common name for IEEE 1076-1987) standard, the VHDL93 standard (aka IEEE 1076-1993) and the protected types of VHDL00 (aka IEEE 1076a or IEEE 1076-2000). GHDL can also implement non-standard third party libraries such as those provided by Synopsys and Mentor Graphics, but this is discouraged 1.
• GHDL directly creates binaries or executable images, which is considered the best form for testbenches (autonomous self-checking VHDL designs which use assert). These binaries can also create a VCD file or a GHW file, which May Be visually inspected with a waveform viewer such as GTKWave.
• GHDL can also be used to pretty print or to generate cross references in HTML.
• GHDL can generate a Makefile for any component in a design.

Shortcomings

• GHDL is only officially available on Linux systems, but some have had success compiling GHDL on Solaris Sparc, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows (using Cygwin).
• Overflow detection is not yet implemented.
• Some constraint checks are missing.
• VHDL-93 is not completely implemented.
• Partial support of VHDL-02.
• There are no checks for elaboration order.

External links

• Project home page

ko:GHDL