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TimingDrawer

This tool generates timing diagrams for documenting hardware design. It reads the description from a text file with a simple syntax. It generates vector graphic. It can be used in command line mode or with a GUI. It is written in Python and works on any platform.

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Features

  • Designed to be efficient:
    • Easy to install.
    • Easy to learn.
    • Easy to use.
  • Command line interface:
    • Use it your favorite text editor.
    • Use it with your own scripts.
  • GUI:
    • A simple text editor with auto-preview (no graphic editing...).
    • No need to install an external viewer.
    • Avoid the loop edit-save-generate-view-edit...
  • Generate vector graphics:
    • High visual quality on screen or on paper.
    • Scalable Vector Graphic (svg) can be easily embedded in web pages and supported by many tools.
    • Enhanced Metafile Format (emf) can be directly inserted in MS Word documents (note that emf files are not fully supported by open-source tools such as LibreOffice or Inkscape).
    • Encapsulated PostScript (eps) is also supported (but it gives lower quality graphic).
    • It can also generate text based diagram (to be included directly as a comment in a source file for example)
  • Written in pure Python:
    • Requires only Python (already available on Linux platform; easily installed on Windows platform).
    • No installation required (no administrator right required).
    • No compilation needed.
    • Based on standard Python libraries (no dependency issue).

Quick start

Tips for MS Word users

  • MS Word supports Enhanced Metafile Format (emf) files (Insert>Picture).
  • It is possible to copy and paste directly from TimingDrawer to MS Word. This requires insallation of the Python pywin32 package. In TimingDrawer, select Export>Copy eps file to clipboard and paste in Word.

Thanks

This project is strongly inspired by http://drawtiming.sourceforge.net/. Thanks to their developpers.

Related

Wiki: Input File Syntax