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This seems like a pretty egregious misreading of the project? Python isn't being lowered into silicon. It's a glue language for Boring Old Verilog that's been

by jawnv6 5y ago

This seems like a pretty egregious misreading of the project? Python isn't being lowered into silicon. It's a glue language for Boring Old Verilog that's been "compiled" into silicon since 1984. chip.set('source', 'heartbeat.v')

IshKebab 5y ago
It seems you're right but I also misread it. I think it's badly written. Does this not sound like high level synthesis? > Process scaling is coming to an end and it is a social imperative that we find a new path to extend the Moore's Law exponential. The most viable option is extreme silicon specialization, which will require fast automated translation from program to silicon. Compiling simple programs into silicon should be like using llvm or gcc > development should be like programming in Python It actually seems like it is just a Python EDA build system. Python is still a terrible choice though.
- jawnv6 5y ago
  I don't think the project is putting their best presentation forward, but the second image on the intro makes it pretty clear there's a .v/.sdc/.def file kicking around. Without any relevant tooling to develop, debug, or modify them, but it's clear the python is just shuffling deck chairs.
- adapteva 5y ago
  Expressing a complex project succinctly enough that all of HN will get it within 5sec is an np hard problem...here are the full docs. https://docs.siliconcompiler.com/en/latest/ https://docs.siliconcompiler.com/en/latest/
  - IshKebab 5y ago
    How about "SiliconCompiler is a silicon build tool (unfortunately) written in Python. It allows you to drive RTL synthesisers and simulators and their associated tools (e.g. layout visualisation) using a declarative project configuration file, also (unfortunately) written in Python. Examples of the tools it can drive include Verilator, Yosys, Vivado and Spice. Its function roughly similar to that of CMake for C++." Assuming that's roughly accurate I think it is way clearer. You can remove the (unfortunately)s if you like. :)

by jawnv6 5y ago

IshKebab 5y ago

It seems you're right but I also misread it. I think it's badly written. Does this not sound like high level synthesis? > Process scaling is coming to an end and it is a social imperative that we find a new path to extend the Moore's Law exponential. The most viable option is extreme silicon specialization, which will require fast automated translation from program to silicon. Compiling simple programs into silicon should be like using llvm or gcc > development should be like programming in Python It actually seems like it is just a Python EDA build system. Python is still a terrible choice though.

jawnv6 5y ago
I don't think the project is putting their best presentation forward, but the second image on the intro makes it pretty clear there's a .v/.sdc/.def file kicking around. Without any relevant tooling to develop, debug, or modify them, but it's clear the python is just shuffling deck chairs.
adapteva 5y ago
Expressing a complex project succinctly enough that all of HN will get it within 5sec is an np hard problem...here are the full docs. https://docs.siliconcompiler.com/en/latest/ https://docs.siliconcompiler.com/en/latest/
- IshKebab 5y ago
  How about "SiliconCompiler is a silicon build tool (unfortunately) written in Python. It allows you to drive RTL synthesisers and simulators and their associated tools (e.g. layout visualisation) using a declarative project configuration file, also (unfortunately) written in Python. Examples of the tools it can drive include Verilator, Yosys, Vivado and Spice. Its function roughly similar to that of CMake for C++." Assuming that's roughly accurate I think it is way clearer. You can remove the (unfortunately)s if you like. :)