Re: (* synthesis, keep [=<optional_value>] *) // ALL?


Subject: Re: (* synthesis, keep [=] *) // ALL?
From: VhdlCohen@aol.com
Date: Fri Feb 08 2002 - 08:46:52 PST


One of goals of the KEEP is to prevent optimization of a design when all the
pieces are not there. This is useful when it is necessary to evaluate the
performance of a partial design, without having the synthesis tool blow away
most of the design.
Issues in the keep are:
1. Keep ALL in a downward direction?
  -- If keep is at the module declaration level, like:
  module xyz (a, b,c)(* synthesis syn_keep= all *);
  module xyz (a, b,c)(* synthesis syn_keep= downward*); //?
then everything within the module is kept, and no optimization within the
design is performed.
I guess, that would include instances within the design.

2. Keep ALL in an upwward direction?
instanceX instanceX(...)(* synthesis syn_keep= all *);
instanceX instanceX(...)(* synthesis syn_keep= upward*);
Optimation of instanceX is allowed ?? but all the drivers and everything
upward that has anything to do with pins of that instance are kept??
Do we want this?

Issues to discuss.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ben Cohen Publisher, Trainer, Consultant (310) 721-4830
<A HREF="http://www.vhdlcohen.com/">http://www.vhdlcohen.com/> vhdlcohen@aol.com
Author of following textbooks:
* Real Chip Design and Verification Using Verilog and VHDL, 2002 isbn
0-9705394-2-8
* Component Design by Example ", 2001 isbn 0-9705394-0-1
* VHDL Coding Styles and Methodologies, 2nd Edition, 1999 isbn 0-7923-8474-1
* VHDL Answers to Frequently Asked Questions, 2nd Edition, isbn 0-7923-8115
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