Title :
The Challenges of Synthesizing Hardware from C-Like Languages
Author :
Edwards, Stephen A.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Comput. Sci., Columbia Univ.
fDate :
5/1/2006 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
This article presents one side of an ongoing debate on the appropriateness of C-like languages as hardware description languages. The article examines various features of C and their mapping to hardware, and makes a cogent argument that vanilla C is not the right language for hardware description if synthesis is the goal. C-like languages are far more compelling for these tasks, and one in particular, SystemC, is now widely used, as are many ad hoc variants
Keywords :
C language; hardware description languages; high level synthesis; C-like language; SystemC; hardware description language; hardware synthesis; Accidents; Application software; Circuit synthesis; Hardware design languages; Kernel; Optimizing compilers; Programming profession; Switches; System software; System-level design; C-like languages; Hardware synthesis; electronic system-level design;
Journal_Title :
Design & Test of Computers, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/MDT.2006.134
