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From: Tom Hawkins<tom@l...>
Date: Mon Mar 22 15:32:35 CET 2004
Subject: [oc] ANN: Confluence 0.9 -- Open Source, Executable Models, Auto Documentation
This is probably the largest Confluence release to date. The major
features include an open source license, executable simulation
models, automatic HTML documentation, and a new standard library.


** Open Source License

Starting with Confluence 0.9, the compiler is now released under the
GNU General Public License and the standard libraries are covered
with the GNU Lesser General Public License.


** Executable Simulation Models

The Confluence compiler now returns executable models providing bit
and cycle accuracy with high simulation performance.

The executable simulation models are controlled by a simple command
and query language, making it easy to connect Confluence to any
verification environment or programming language (SystemC, Java,
Python, OCaml, etc.). Because the simulation kernels run optimized
native code, even a Perl test-bench will yield performance on par
with compiled HDL simulation.

Another added benefit of executable simulation models is IP design
firms can deliver precise evaluation models that are ready to run and
nearly impossible to reverse engineer.


** Automatic HTML Documentation

Confluence 0.9 also introduces cfdoc: a tool for generating HTML
documentation from Confluence source code comments. Similar to
javadoc, cfdoc scans a source directory tree extracting comments from
*.cf files. Currently the HTML is not the most attractive, but the
formatting and capabilities of cfdoc will continue to improve.

Here's a shot of the standard library:

http://www.launchbird.com/lib/


** New Standard Library (base.cf)

The new standard library has been built from the ground up with more
organization and clearer naming conventions to provide a robust
foundation for Confluence designers.

Aside from base.cf, the libraries have reserved space for higher-level
components for DSP, communication, on-chip busing, processors,
cryptography, and other categories. Hopefully the open source
community will start elaborating on these areas.


** Download

Confluence 0.9 source code and binary distributions are available at:

http://www.launchbird.com/download.html


** Background

Confluence is a declarative functional programming language for the
design and verification of synchronous reactive systems including
digital logic, hard-real-time software, and hardware-software
co-design.

>From one source, Confluence generates:

- Verilog and VHDL netlists (synthesis, simulation)
- Cycle accurate C models (software, simulation)
- NuSMV models (formal verification)
- XML netlists (custom back-end tooling)
- Executable Models (open verification)


Regards,
Tom


--
Tom Hawkins
Launchbird Design Systems, Inc.
http://www.launchbird.com/