ALHARD: an application-oriented language for hardware simulation

ABSTRACT

For the purpose of the specification and operation level simulations of hardware, hardware description language Alhard (Application-oriented Language for HARDware simulation) was designed, and its simulation system was developed. Alhard language is an application-oriented language to be used for generation of simulators, and is designed by expanding C language to be used for hardware descriptions. Its characteristics are an operation for the bit string, an object oriented feature, and demon function activated by event driven. In this system, by using the demon function, hardware descriptions can be separated from the descriptions of check functions for simulators and user interfaces. Simulations can be executed by converting the hardware description into C language to be compiled. In the simulation systems, visual user interfaces, implemented through use of the demon function, are provided. In this paper, a summary of the system, software structure, language specifications, simulator interfaces, and an example of an application of this system to a micro-program simulator are described.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  B. Hardware
  B.6 LOGIC DESIGN
      B.6.3 Design Aids
          Subjects: Hardware description languages

Additional Classification:
  B. Hardware
  B.6 LOGIC DESIGN
      B.6.3 Design Aids
          Subjects: Simulation

  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications

          Nouns: C

  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.6 Methodology and Techniques
          Subjects: Interaction techniques

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors, Languages