This paper presents a methodology to automatically generate production quality software development tools for programmable architectures using the machine description language LISA. Various architectures presenting diverse architectural originalities will be presented and the feasibility of automatically generating simulator, assembler, linker and graphical debugger frontend are discussed. The presented approach is not limited to a fixed abstraction level-case studies of the Texas Instruments C62x and C54x, the Analog Devices ADSP2101 as well as the ARM7 show the applicability of the methodology from cycle/phase to instruction accurate models.

This paper presents a methodology to retarget the technique of compiled simulation for digital signal processors (DSPs) using the modeling language LISA. In the past, the principle of compiled simulation as means for speeding up simulators has only been implemented for specific DSP architectures. The new approach presented here discusses methods of integrating compiled simulation techniques to retargetable simulation tools. The principle and the implementation are discussed in this paper and results for the TI TMS320C6201 DSP are presented.

Fast processor simulators are needed for the software development of embedded processors, for HW/SW cosimulation systems, and for profiling and design of application-specific processors. Such fast simulators can be generated based on the machine description language LISA. Using this language to model processor architectures enables the generation of compiled simulators on various abstraction levels, assemblers, and compiler back ends. The article discusses the requirements of software development tools on processor models and presents the approach based on the LISA language. Furthermore, the implementation of a retargetable environment consisting of compiled simulator, debugger, and assembler is presented. Measurements for a verified, cycle-based LISA model of the TI TMS320C62× DSP show that that this approach achieves between 37× and 170× higher simulation speed compared to a commercial simulator using a standard technique and the same accuracy level.

This paper presents the machine description language LISA for the generation of bitand cycle accurate models of DSP processors. Based on a behavioral operation description, the architectural details and pipeline operations of modern DSP processors can be covered. Beyond the behavioral model, LISA descriptions include other architecture-related information like the instruction set. The information provided by LISA models enables automatic generation of simulators and assemblers which are essential elements of DSP software development environments. In order to proof the applicability of our approach, a realized model of the Texas Instruments TMS320C6201 DSP is presented and derived LISA code examples are given.

In this survey, key drivers in design methodology are provided that enable successful design of systems-on-a-chip for the highly competitive telecommunications market. Main components of a design environment are described that fulfill the requirements of today's system design: efficient verification by means of fast simulation, integration of intellectual property, support of HW/SW co-design by means of a generic machine description language, generation of dedicated hardware blocks for high speed applications, and the link from system level performance evaluation to implementations in hardware and software.