Platform Developers

Programmable Platforms are hybrid IC forms of traditional ASIC and FPGA technologies usually embedding pre-built common computing infrastructure such as single or multiple embedded processors. They provide unprecedented flexibility in trading off cost, performance, upgradability and ability to address multiple markets simultaneously. They provide programmability in both hardware and software and sometimes the ability to migrate functions from one to the other.

EDA tools that take maximum advantage of the unique features of a specific programmable platform must be built by uniquely assembling common technology solutions from each of the constituent [ viz., Hardware Synthesis and Software compilation] spaces. However, they have to yet remain flexible to be introduced into existing design flows either through common data interchange formats or by building custom interfaces to pre-existing points in the flow.

SoftJin is uniquely positioned to be able to help build design tools for programmable platforms, by having skilled expertise in the technologies underlying this architecture and a business model to custom deliver these solutions to the growing number of platform providers.

SoftJin's offerings: SoftJin's offerings for Programmable Platform providers include:

Tools for Platform development

These tools help create the platform or help micro-architect/configure the platform for a particular set of applications. These include the specific IC design tools that might be required by the Platform vendor design team for designing the silicon. Also, these include System Design tools that help a Micro-architecture designer select the right configuration of the platform for a particular set of applications.

Tools for Application development

These tools help the users of platforms to create applications on a selected platform. Such tools include System Specification, Co-verification and hardware/software compilation tools.

Application Development tool flow Whichever be the type of platform you offer, based on our expertise in the System and Logic Design Automation space, we can support you in developing the design flow and then developing customized tools for enabling your platform. The customized tools for a typical Design Flow on a Platform could include:

1. System Specification tool for enabling entry in any formalized language or graphical form. 2. System Simulation for fast functional verification of input design behavior 3. Hardware - Software Co-design environment to refine and map the System Specification onto the platform. These would include:

Partitioning and Mapping Tool
Static Performance Estimation Tool
Compilation and Synthesis tools.

4. Hardware-Software co-verification and analysis tools such as co-simulators, profilers and graphical debuggers 5. Pre-compiled Application Libraries

SoftJin team has been involved in development of design tools for platforms for several customers.

System design environment for dataflow multi-processor architecture - Here, system design tools for using a dataflow processor as well as for micro-architecting the processor were developed. These included tools for graphical entry of the application, functional simulation, architecture simulation, static performance estimation and task allocation.
SystemC based Co-verification environment for re-configurable parallel architecture - Here, tools for co-simulation and debugging of designs partitioned between a re-configurable parallel architecture and micro-controller/DSP were developed.
Learn more about this engagement.

FPGA vendors

One of the key success factors for any FPGA vendor is making available a customized development toolkit to its users to optimally implement the design onto the FPGA. The toolkit should include a robust and integrated custom design flow (from RTL to bit-stream), libraries and reference applications designed on the FPGA.

As a custom EDA and Design Services provider, SoftJin is uniquely positioned to be able to help Programmable Platform vendors build such design kits. Our services include:

Custom EDA Tool development services SoftJin has long experience in development of customized EDA tools for Programmable Platforms. Our re-usable EDA building blocks for Programmable Synthesis, Static Timing Analysis and Routing jumpstart development of these critical tools that are form part of the design flow. Our HDL related tool development experience includes development of custom rule checkers on input RTL from the user, RTL Inference and other RTL Analysis tools. Our GUI Development expertise enables development of customized Graphical Viewer (to display the implemented design on the FPGA) and Interactive IDEs (to provide common Front End to the designer for using the entire tool chain) IP and Application Development Along with Custom tools, SoftJin's team of skilled Designers and Verification Engineers can develop custom IP/Macro blocks for the Programmable Platform. Also, using the complete design tool chain and the building blocks, SoftJin can develop full real-life applications selected from relevant vertical markets as targeted by the Programmable Platform vendor. These applications can serve to show case the benefits of the Platform and also serve as reference guide and training material for customers of the Platform Software Lifecycle Management Services One of the challenges faced by the Programmable Platform vendors at early stages is ensuring the quality and robustness of the design toolkit even while the Architecture and Software tools are evolving. Here, SoftJin provides unique software lifecycle management services to Programmable Platform vendors with the objective of enabling continuous improvement of the Quality of Results of the customized design tools and the complete design flow. These services include:

1. Setting up and management of an automated test and regression environment
2. Creation and ongoing enhancement of Test suite
3. Use of the test environment to detect and diagnose problems

Download brochure on our service offerings for FPGA vendors