fpga-verification 0.2.0

Reusable FPGA simulation and hardware-in-the-loop verification tools

fpga-verification

Reusable FPGA verification helpers. The package provides shared data formats, wire-protocol codecs, cocotb simulation utilities, and an Intel System Console HIL transport.

Install

Install the base package for format conversion and protocol codecs:

python -m pip install fpga-verification

Install cocotb simulation helpers:

python -m pip install "fpga-verification[sim]"

Install Intel System Console HIL helpers:

python -m pip install "fpga-verification[hil]"

Install everything:

python -m pip install "fpga-verification[all]"

Public API

from fpga_verification.formats import QFormat, UIntFormat, qformat
from fpga_verification.protocols.avalon_st.intel_video import (
    VIPControlPacket,
    VIPFrame,
    VIPInterlacing,
    VIPPacketType,
    VIPUserPacket,
    VIPVideoPacket,
    vip_packet_from_symbols,
)
from fpga_verification.sim.buses import (
    AvalonSTBeat,
    AvalonSTBus,
    AvalonSTFrame,
    AvalonSTMonitor,
    AvalonSTSink,
    AvalonSTSource,
)
from fpga_verification.sim.bfms.intel_dma import (
    DMAAddressRegion,
    IntelDMABFM,
    IntelDMACommandMonitor,
    SparseByteMemory,
)
from fpga_verification.sim.platform_designer import platform_test_cocotb
from fpga_verification.sim.runners import intel_component_test_cocotb, rtl_test_cocotb
from fpga_verification.hil.intel import IntelSystemConsoleSession

Numeric Formats

UIntFormat and QFormat convert between Python/numpy values and raw integer words used by hardware buses, memories, and scoreboards.

UIntFormat

from fpga_verification.formats import UIntFormat

pixel = UIntFormat(width=10)
raw_pixels = pixel.array([0, 1023, 1024, -1])

assert raw_pixels.tolist() == [0, 1023, 0, 1023]
assert raw_pixels.dtype == pixel.dtype

Inputs:

• width: unsigned word width in bits, from 1 to 64.
• zeros(shape): creates a zero-filled numpy array.
• wrap(values): masks values to the configured width.
• array(values, shape=None): masks, casts to the smallest unsigned storage dtype, and optionally reshapes.

Outputs:

• dtype: numpy unsigned dtype selected from uint8, uint16, uint32, or uint64.
• mask: integer bit mask for the configured width.

QFormat

from fpga_verification.formats import QFormat

sample = QFormat(qi=3, qf=2, signed=True)
raw = sample.float_to_qraw([1.25, -1.0])
back = sample.qraw_to_float(raw)

assert raw.tolist() == [5, 28]
assert back.tolist() == [1.25, -1.0]

Inputs:

• qi: integer width. For signed formats, this includes the sign bit.
• qf: fractional width.
• signed: True for two's-complement signed values, False for unsigned.
• float_to_qraw(x, saturate=True): converts floats to raw fixed-point words.
• int_to_qraw(raw, saturate=True): converts signed integer values to raw stored words.
• qraw_to_int(raw): converts raw words to signed or unsigned integers.
• qraw_to_float(raw): converts raw words to floating-point values.
• multiply(left_raw, right_format, right_raw, out_qf=None): multiplies two raw fixed-point arrays. If out_qf is provided, the result is shifted to the requested fractional width.
• zeros(size=None), ones(size=None), full(size, value, raw=False), and randomize(...): create test data.

Outputs:

• width: total raw word width, qi + qf.
• scale: 2 ** qf.
• mask: integer bit mask for the raw word.
• min_float, max_float: representable numeric range.
• dtype: numpy unsigned storage dtype for the raw word.

Avalon-ST Protocols

Avalon-ST helpers follow the Avalon interface terminology used by Intel/Altera. The protocol reference is: https://docs.altera.com/r/docs/683091/22.3/avalon-interface-specifications/introduction-to-the-avalon-interface-specifications

The protocol codec layer is independent of cocotb and simulator state. It accepts and returns Python lists of symbols.

Intel Avalon-ST Video Packets

from fpga_verification.protocols.avalon_st.intel_video import (
    VIPControlPacket,
    VIPFrame,
    VIPInterlacing,
    VIPUserPacket,
    vip_packet_from_symbols,
)

control = VIPControlPacket(
    width=1920,
    height=1080,
    interlacing=VIPInterlacing.PROGRESSIVE_FRAME,
)
symbols = control.to_symbols()
decoded = vip_packet_from_symbols(symbols)

assert decoded.width == 1920
assert decoded.height == 1080

frame = VIPFrame(
    width=2,
    height=2,
    pixels=[0x10, 0x20, 0x30, 0x40],
    user_packets=[VIPUserPacket(1, [0xA, 0xB])],
)
packets = frame.packets()

Inputs:

• VIPControlPacket(width, height, interlacing=...): frame dimensions and interlacing metadata. Width and height must fit in 16 bits.
• VIPVideoPacket(payload): video payload symbols.
• VIPUserPacket(user_type, payload): user packet type 1..8 and payload symbols.
• VIPFrame(width, height, pixels, interlacing=..., user_packets=...): a black-box container that produces user, control, and video packets.
• vip_packet_from_symbols(symbols, symbols_per_beat=1): decodes one packet from raw symbols. symbols_per_beat controls how many symbols belong to the first Avalon-ST beat; payload starts after that first beat.

Outputs:

• to_symbols(): returns a list of 4-bit packet symbols.
• VIPFrame.control_packet(): returns a VIPControlPacket.
• VIPFrame.video_packet(): returns a VIPVideoPacket.
• VIPFrame.packets(): returns user packets followed by control and video packets.
• VIPInterlacing.description: human-readable interlacing mode.

Ancillary packets are currently reported as unsupported by the decoder.

Avalon-ST Cocotb Bus Helpers

The cocotb bus helpers drive and observe Avalon-ST interfaces through cocotb handles. They support scalar valid/ready, optional packet signals, optional empty, error, and channel, and ready modes ready_latency=0 or ready_latency=1.

Instantiating A Source And Sink

import cocotb
from cocotb.clock import Clock
from cocotb.triggers import RisingEdge

from fpga_verification.sim.buses import (
    AvalonSTBus,
    AvalonSTFrame,
    AvalonSTSink,
    AvalonSTSource,
)


@cocotb.test()
async def stream_loopback_test(dut):
    cocotb.start_soon(Clock(dut.clk, 10, units="ns").start())

    dut.reset.value = 1
    await RisingEdge(dut.clk)
    dut.reset.value = 0

    source = AvalonSTSource(
        AvalonSTBus.from_prefix(dut, "sink"),
        dut.clk,
        reset=dut.reset,
        data_bits_per_symbol=8,
        packets=True,
    )
    sink = AvalonSTSink(
        AvalonSTBus.from_prefix(dut, "source"),
        dut.clk,
        reset=dut.reset,
        data_bits_per_symbol=8,
        packets=True,
    )

    await source.send(AvalonSTFrame([0x11, 0x22, 0x33]))
    received = await sink.recv()

    assert received.data == [0x11, 0x22, 0x33]

Inputs:

• AvalonSTBus.from_prefix(dut, prefix): binds signals named like <prefix>_data, <prefix>_valid, <prefix>_ready, <prefix>_startofpacket, and <prefix>_endofpacket.
• AvalonSTFrame(data, channel=None, error=None, empty=None, tx_complete=None): frame payload and optional sideband metadata.
• AvalonSTSource(bus, clock, reset=None, data_bits_per_symbol=8, symbols_per_beat=None, first_symbol_in_high_order_bits=False, ready_latency=0, ready_allowance=None, packets=None, idle_value="x").
• AvalonSTSink(...) and AvalonSTMonitor(...): use the same bus format options as AvalonSTSource.
• send(frame) / send_nowait(frame): queue transmit data.
• recv() / recv_nowait(): receive complete frames.
• recv_beat() / recv_beat_nowait(): receive one transferred beat.
• set_pause_generator(generator): apply backpressure or idle insertion from an iterable of booleans.

Outputs:

• AvalonSTFrame.data: list of symbols.
• AvalonSTFrame.channel, error, empty: captured sideband metadata.
• AvalonSTFrame.sim_time_start, sim_time_end: simulation timestamps.
• AvalonSTBeat: one handshake beat with data, decoded symbols, sop, eop, empty, error, channel, and sim_time.
• wait(): waits for a source to become idle or a monitor/sink to see activity, depending on the helper type.

Intel DMA BFM

IntelDMABFM is a cocotb black-box model for Intel read and write DMA streaming interfaces. It consumes DMA command descriptors, emits DMA responses, sources read data from memory, and stores write data into memory.

import cocotb
from cocotb.clock import Clock
from cocotb.triggers import RisingEdge

from fpga_verification.sim.buses import AvalonSTBus
from fpga_verification.sim.bfms.intel_dma import (
    DMAAddressRegion,
    IntelDMABFM,
    IntelDMACommandMonitor,
    SparseByteMemory,
)


@cocotb.test()
async def dma_component_test(dut):
    cocotb.start_soon(Clock(dut.clk, 10, units="ns").start())

    memory = SparseByteMemory()
    memory.write(0x1000, b"\x01\x02\x03\x04")

    dma = IntelDMABFM(
        dut,
        clock=dut.clk,
        reset=dut.reset,
        memory=memory,
        mode="full",
    ).start()

    command_monitor = IntelDMACommandMonitor(
        clock=dut.clk,
        reset=dut.reset,
        rdma_cmd_bus=AvalonSTBus.from_prefix(dut, "rdma_cmd"),
        wdma_cmd_bus=AvalonSTBus.from_prefix(dut, "wdma_cmd"),
        read_address_regions=[DMAAddressRegion("input", 0x1000, 0x4000)],
        write_address_regions=[DMAAddressRegion("output", 0x8000, 0x4000)],
    ).start()

    dut.reset.value = 1
    await RisingEdge(dut.clk)
    dut.reset.value = 0

    # Drive the DUT here. The BFM responds on the DMA Avalon-ST interfaces.
    # Later, inspect memory or descriptor logs as black-box outputs.
    written_bytes = memory.read(0x8000, 16)
    read_descriptors = command_monitor.read_descriptors

    dma.stop()
    command_monitor.stop()

Inputs:

• IntelDMABFM(dut, clock, reset, memory=None, read_response_delay_cycles=2, write_response_delay_cycles=2, ..., mode="full").
• mode: "full", "read"/"read_only", or "write"/"write_only".
• memory: optional SparseByteMemory shared by read and write paths.
• Optional bus overrides: rdma_cmd_bus, rdma_resp_bus, wdma_cmd_bus, wdma_resp_bus, din_bus, and dout_bus. If omitted, buses are discovered from DUT prefixes with the same names.
• SparseByteMemory.write(address, data): initializes byte-addressed memory.
• DMAAddressRegion(name, start, size): allowed address interval for passive checking. End address is exclusive.
• IntelDMACommandMonitor(...): pass command buses or existing AvalonSTMonitor instances and optional allowed address regions.

Outputs:

• SparseByteMemory.read(address, length): returns bytes stored by the BFM.
• IntelDMABFM.read_commands, write_commands: descriptor queues observed by the model.
• IntelDMABFM.read_responses, write_responses: queues of descriptors whose responses were issued.
• IntelDMACommandMonitor.read_descriptors, write_descriptors: decoded descriptor history.
• ReadDMADescriptor.decode(value) and WriteDMADescriptor.decode(value): convert raw descriptor words into address, length, and control fields.

HIL Session

IntelSystemConsoleSession opens one persistent system-console process and uses it sequentially for Avalon-MM memory access and JTAG UART commands. Intel Quartus system-console must be available on PATH.

import numpy as np

from fpga_verification.hil.intel import IntelSystemConsoleSession

frame = np.arange(1024 * 1280, dtype=np.uint16).reshape(1024, 1280)

with IntelSystemConsoleSession(
    system_console="system-console",
    master_index=0,
    uart_index=0,
    startup_timeout=30.0,
    work_dir=".",
) as hw:
    hw.write_memory(frame, address=0x01E84800)
    response = hw.command("g\n", timeout=3.0)
    frame_out = hw.read_memory((1024, 1280), address=0x02DC6C00)

print(response)
print(frame_out.shape)

Inputs:

• system_console: executable name or path.
• master_index: System Console Avalon-MM master index.
• uart_index: JTAG UART service index.
• startup_timeout: seconds to wait for the Tcl worker to become ready.
• work_dir: directory used for temporary binary transfer files.
• write_memory(data, address, chunk_size=4096): writes numpy-compatible data as little-endian 16-bit words.
• read_memory(shape, address, chunk_size=4096): reads little-endian 16-bit words and reshapes them.
• command(command, timeout=3.0, debug=False): sends a UTF-8 command over JTAG UART and waits for the first non-empty response line.

Outputs:

• read_memory(...): numpy array with the requested shape.
• command(...): response string.
• Methods raise TimeoutError or RuntimeError if System Console stops or reports a protocol error.

Simulation Runners

The simulation helpers cover three levels of generated and non-generated designs:

rtl_runner
  RTL sources -> cocotb build/test

intel_component_runner
  *_hw.tcl -> ip-generate -> generated composition HDL + original RTL -> rtl_runner

platform_runner
  already generated Platform Designer sim dir/msim_setup.tcl -> simulator flow

rtl_test_cocotb is the direct RTL path. Pass it explicit HDL sources or source directories, and it delegates build/test to the selected cocotb simulator runner.

intel_component_test_cocotb is for Platform Designer component .tcl files. It generates only the HDL needed for simulation, keeps composition HDL that has no source equivalent, replaces generated copies of project RTL with exact matches from source_dirs, and then calls rtl_test_cocotb.

Its generated-catalog flow is:

source_dirs
  -> ip-make-ipx --thorough-descent --source-directory=<source_dirs>
  -> components.ipx in generated temp dir
  -> ip-generate --search-path=<components.ipx>,$
  -> parse .spd
  -> replace generated RTL copies with original source files
  -> rtl_test_cocotb

Pass generate_only=True to retain and return the generated composition directory without running simulation.

platform_test_cocotb is for already generated Platform Designer simulation trees. The expected layout is:

project_root/
  <hdl_toplevel>/
    <hdl_toplevel>/
      testbench/
        mentor/
          msim_setup.tcl

For Questa, the platform runner compiles through msim_setup.tcl and runs cocotb against the generated simulator libraries. For Verilator, it reads Verilog/SystemVerilog sources from msim_setup.tcl and builds them directly.