fault: A Python Embedded Domain-Specific Language for Metaprogramming Portable Hardware Verification Components

Lenny Truong, Steven Herbst, Rajsekhar Setaluri, Makai Mann, Ross G. Daly, Keyi Zhang, Caleb Donovick, Daniel Stanley, Mark Horowitz, Clark W. Barrett, Pat Hanrahan

Abstract: While hardware generators have drastically improved design productivity, they have introduced new challenges for the task of verification. To effectively cover the functionality of a sophisticated generator, verification engineers require tools that provide the flexibility of metaprogramming. However, flexibility alone is not enough; components must also be portable in order to encourage the proliferation of verification libraries as well as enable new methodologies. This paper introduces fault, a Python embedded hardware verification language that aims to empower design teams to realize the full potential of generators.