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VHDL tutorial - A practical example - part 3 - VHDL testbench

VHDL tutorial - A practical example - part 3 - VHDL testbench

Gene Breniman
Still RelevantIntermediate

In part 1 (http://www.embeddedrelated.com/showarticle/85.php) of this series we focused on the hardware design, including some of the VHDL definitions of the I/O characteristics of the CPLD part.  In part 2...


Summary

This article teaches practical techniques for writing VHDL testbenches to verify CPLD/FPGA designs. It walks through building stimulus generators, self-checking assertions, and file-based test vectors so readers can simulate and validate hardware behavior reliably.

Key Takeaways

  • Create self-checking VHDL testbenches that apply stimuli and automatically verify outputs with assertions and reports.
  • Generate accurate clock and reset stimulus and model timing behavior to expose real-world issues during simulation.
  • Use file I/O to load test vectors and capture simulation results for repeatable regression testing.
  • Structure testbenches with component instantiation, generics, and reusable processes to simplify maintenance and reuse.

Who Should Read This

Embedded engineers or FPGA/CPLD designers with basic VHDL knowledge who need practical guidance for building effective, reusable testbenches and running simulations.

Still RelevantIntermediate

Topics

Testing/DebugFirmware DesignBare-Metal Programming

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