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  • Vl

Kit

A command-line program for using vl in basic ways.

The VL Toolkit (``kit'') is a standalone program that lets you use various parts of VL from the command-line. It currently includes:

  • A Verilog/SystemVerilog linter, vl-lint
  • A server that powers a web-based module browser, vl-server
  • A shell for launching ACL2 with VL pre-loaded, vl-shell
  • Some miscellaneous commands.

Note that the kit is intended to be a convenient, but not complete way to use VL. We generally intend VL to be a useful ACL2 library, not a standalone program. Most VL functions don't have any command-line wrappers.

Installation

To build the kit, just run make vl in the acl2/books directory. This should produce an executable at acl2/books/centaur/vl/bin/vl.

Usage

The top-level vl program is really just a wrapper for several sub-commands:

VL Verilog Toolkit
Copyright (C) 2008-2016 Centaur Technology

Usage: vl <command> [arguments]

Commands:

  help    Print this message, or get help on a particular VL command
  lint    Find potential bugs in a Verilog design
  gather  Collect Verilog files into a single file
  server  Start a VL web server for web-based module browsing
  shell   Interactive VL shell (for experts)
  zip     Save a .vlzip file for the VL web server

Use 'vl help <command>' for help on a specific command.

Extending the Kit

If you develop your own VL functionality, you can create an extended kit that knows how to run your additional commands. See in particular vl-toolkit-other-command.

Subtopics

Vl-lint
A linting tool for Verilog and SystemVerilog.
Vl-server
The VL server powers the Module Browser, a web-based interface for viewing Verilog designs.
Vl-gather
Collect SystemVerilog files from across your design into a single file.
Vl-zip
Parse a SystemVerilog design and save it as a .vlzip file, typically for use with the vl-server.
Vl-main
Top level entry point into the kit. This just handles the command-line parsing and invokes the right sub-command for the vl executable.
Split-plusargs
Split command line arguments into plusargs and non-plusargs.
Vl-shell
An interactive VL command loop. Allows you to use the VL kit as a normal copy of ACL2 with VL preloaded.
Vl-json
Parse a SystemVerilog design and save it as a .json file.