[myhdl-list] PyPy and the myHDL tutorials

[Bob C. <Fl...@gm...>]

I'm making my way through the myHDL manual, tutorials and cookbook using PyPy.  Several things have been needed to make PyPy work for the tutorials:

1. Install pypy 1.6:

For Fedora, it is in Rawhide.  For other platforms, follow these instructions: http://pypy.org/download.html

2. Install setuptools:

wget http://python-distribute.org/distribute_setup.py
sudo pypy distribute_setup.py
sudo ln -s /usr/lib/pypy-1.6/bin/easy_install /usr/bin/pypy_easy_install

3. Install pytest:

sudo pypy_easy_install -U pytest
sudo ln -s /usr/lib/pypy-1.6/bin/py.test /usr/bin/pypy.test


As you can see above, I created two soft links:  1) For easy_install as pypy_easy_install, and 2) for py.test as pypy.test  Both were done mainly to keep my default python install pristine while having the pypy tools in my path.  So instead of running py.test, I run pypy.test.

I've completed the StopWatch and SineComputer examples, and so far everything works fine.

I'm using Eclipse + PyDev along with WebPACK ISE.  For simplicity, I'm using the default Eclipse project structure (~/EclipseWorkspace/<ProjectName>/src) with a ~/EclipseWorkspace/<ProjectName>/ise directory for the Xilinx project.

For cosimulation I tried to use cver, but it segfaults on my Fedora 15 system, so I've been modifying the tutorials as I go to use Icarus, which works well.  For example, here's my modification to SineComputer_v() in SineComputer.py:

    def SineComputer_v(cos_z0, sin_z0, done, z0, start, clock, reset):
         """Perform Verilog cosimulaton."""
         toVerilog(SineComputer, **locals())
         # Presently, cver segfaults on my system.
         #cmd = "cver -q +loadvpi=myhdl_vpi:vpi_compat_bootstrap SineComputer.v tb_SineComputer.v"
         #return Cosimulation(cmd, **locals())
         # Use Icarus instead.
         os.system("iverilog -o SineComputer SineComputer.v tb_SineComputer.v")
         return Cosimulation("vvp -m ./myhdl.vpi SineComputer", **locals())

One other thing: I could not find "myhdl.vpi", but was able to build it from myhdl_vpi.c.  Copying myhdl.vpi into the local project directory seems wasteful, but I haven't yet looked for a system-wide solution.


If anyone has any other hints to add, I'm all ears!

-BobC