Novas Extends Debug Platform with Faster Performance and SystemVerilog Capabilities

Novas has modified the underlying structure of its de facto industry-standard fast signal database (FSDB) to both improve the raw speed of data retrieval and provide more efficient access mechanisms throughout the system. The immediate impact on response times and memory utilization include:

• An estimated 5X improvement when adding signals to the waveform display;
• Average 2X " 10X improvement for tracing in source code and schematic views with annotated signal values; and
• Up to 3X improvement when comparing large FSDB files.

Novas is also evolving its debug platform with new SVA and SVTB capabilities that address the abstract and dynamic nature of these methodologies. Key elements include:

• SVA - Fast off-line assertion checking; assertion analysis engines to automatically isolate failures; and on-the-fly, post-simulation calculation of assertion data to speed debug and minimize simulation data capture requirements.
• SVTB - Traditional source code visualization and tracing; advanced browsers for viewing class structure and hierarchy; and new visualization and analysis engines for the capture, display and tracing of dynamic data and class structures.