Willamette HDL Releases SystemC-Based Software Product; Language Rule Checker Designed for Hardware Design Analysis, Debug.

Business/Technology Editors

BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 12, 2001

Willamette HDL, Inc., a leading language-based design consulting and training firm based here, today began shipping AccurateC(TM), a language rule checker developed for C/C++-based electronic design and the system-level design modeling platform, SystemC.

To meet the challenges of system-on-chip (SOC) design, engineers are expanding their use of C++ to bridge the gap between system-level design and hardware implementation. AccurateC is a complete language rule checker that integrates into a SystemC-based design flow. It performs a series of checks that adhere to established language rule sets and allows the creation of customized rule sets to meet specific design requirements.

"As SystemC trainers, it became clear to us that the need was great for rule checking that included semantic and coding style checks as well as rules for behavioral and RTL synthesis," notes Mike Baird, president of Willamette HDL. "Our goal with AccurateC is to develop a complete and robust tool to enable C++-based hardware design; a tool that helps take the confusion out of what is acceptable C++ code for hardware modeling."

Using AccurateC

"New tools like this truly highlight the emergence of a vibrant SystemC-based design value chain, " says Kevin Kranen, co-chair of the SystemC Steering Group. "We're encouraged to see a tool like AccurateC that facilitates and speeds design and modeling using SystemC."

AccurateC Language Rule Checker increases the quality of the source code by producing design-ready SystemC code. It includes source code analysis and debug capabilities that enable engineers to fully utilize the power of C/C++ for SOC design. AccurateC identifies syntax, semantic and style errors in C/C++ code prior to synthesis and simulation, uncovering errors earlier, not later, in the design process.

AccurateC accepts the entire C/C++ language, using its built-in sets of rules to help the user develop code that will not only compile, but actually simulate and synthesize. On a typical analysis run, AccurateC will first identify syntax and connectivity errors within a netlist. The code is then reviewed against modeling guidelines for behavioral and/or register transfer level (RTL) synthesis. Finally, a full set of coding style checks are completed.

Alternatively, designers can create their own customized rule sets to meet specific design requirements.

Report generation is user configurable. To review and analyze rule check results, AccurateC includes a set of filtering options for designers to select specific types and categories of rule violation messages to display. Each violation is accompanied by a complete description and is linked to the representative line of code to simplify its correction. In addition to individual violation reporting, AccurateC also generates statistics for each design.

Pricing and Availability

AccurateC is shipping today and supports Sun Microsystems and Linux operating systems. A one-year technology subscription license (TSL) starts at $10,000 for the AccurateC Rule Checker.

More information on AccurateC and Willamette HDL's training products can be found at: http://www.whdl.com, or send email to [e-mail]. Or, contact Mike Baird at [phone] or [e-mail].

About Willamette HDL

Founded in 1993, Willamette HDL, Inc., delivers training, consulting services, and software products that help language-based hardware design projects be more successful. Attended by more than 2,500 students, its extensive offering of Verilog, VHDL, and SystemC technology training range from language introduction courses to advanced modeling for optimal results. In addition to classroom instruction and customized on-site training, WHDL offers self-paced, computer-based training courses on their website. For C++-based design, the company offers AccurateC, a complete language rule checker. Willamette HDL is a privately held and self funded company based in Beaverton, Oregon. For more information about Willamette HDL and its products, call [phone] or visit its website at http://www.whdl.com.

AccurateC is a trademark of Willamette HDL, Inc. Willamette HDL acknowledges trademarks or registered trademarks of other organizations for their respective products and services.