up to 90 percent, while System Generator block bring-up offers a 50 percent improvement. In addition, Xilinx has decreased simulation initialization times by up to 80 percent for models with multiple FFTs and other complex IP. A new fast MCode model improves performance of MultAdd by over 90 percent. Xilinx has also updated WinPCap to 4.1.3 for Ethernet hardware co-simulation support in Windows 8.1. Finally, the tool has updated blocksets. See the Vivado Design Suite 2014.2 Release Notes for more information.
ULTRAFAST DESIGN METHODOLOGY With the UltraFast™ offering, Xilinx delivers the first comprehensive design methodology in the programmable industry. Xilinx has hand-picked the best practices from experts and distilled them into this authoritative set of methodology guidelines for the Vivado Design Suite. Now in its second edition, the “UltraFast Design Methodology Guide” extends support to the UltraScale architecture, adds a new Timing Constraint Wizard for rapid timing closure and includes new best practices, such as: • Design methodology DRCs • Revision control • IP and IP Integrator methodology • Simulation (including third-party flows) • Verification • Vivado HLS (high-level synthesis) • Partial reconfiguration
Command Language (Tcl) code. This repository, called the Xilinx Tcl Store, will make it a lot easier to find and share Tcl scripts that other engineers have developed. With the power of Tcl, these scripts can extend the considerable core functionality of the Vivado Design Suite, enhancing productivity and ease of use. The Tcl Store is open to the user community to contribute to the greater good of all designers by publishing Tcl code that others might find useful. The Xilinx Tcl Store provides examples of how to write custom reports, control specific tool behavior, make custom netlist changes and integrate with third-party electronic design automation (EDA) tools such as simulation, synthesis, timing and power analysis, and linting tools. Natively accessed from the Vivado integrated design environment (IDE), the Tcl Store enables users to select and install collections of Tcl scripts called “apps” directly from within the tool. Once installed, these apps have commands that appear just like built-in Vivado Design Suite commands. To learn more about the Xilinx Tcl Store, watch the QuickTake video.
VIVADO QUICKTAKE TUTORIALS Vivado Design Suite QuickTake video tutorials are how-to videos that take a look inside the features of the Vivado Design Suite. New topics include: Design Flow Overview, Using the Timing Constraint Wizard, Xilinx Tcl Store, Using Vivado with Xilinx Evaluation Boards and Packaging Custom IP for use with IP Integrator. See all Quick Take Videos here.
XILINX TCL STORE
VIVADO TRAINING
Xilinx is taking another large step forward in designer productivity by hosting an open-source repository for sharing Tool
For instructor-led training on the Vivado Design Suite, please visit www. xilinx.com/training.
Third Quarter 2014
Xcell Journal
63