SystemC TLM-2.0: A Moment of Peace in the Standards Game
Posted by karenb on June 19th, 2008
For the disbelievers among you, I really, really was not at DAC this year! If you think you saw me, it was no doubt my evil twin sister attempting to fool you. Nevertheless, standardization in EDA continued nicely for the Open SystemC Initiative (OSCI).
At DAC in Anaheim, OSCI announced the completion of the SystemC TLM-2.0 standard. The new TLM-2.0 interface standard enables SystemC model interoperability and reuse at the transaction level. This is essential to help further adoption of ESL methodologies, and especially virtual platforms, for pre-silicon embedded software design. You can find more information and views in the blog of my colleague, Frank Schirrmeister.
While the birth of SystemC in 1999 had its share of labor pains (no standard begins in a completely friendly environment), I think it’s safe to say that today it is a “peaceful standard”. There is little controversy at present, and Synopsys, along with our two biggest competitors, jointly pushed TLM-2.0 through the working group together with other EDA and customer partners. Our support at Synopsys, shown in our related press release, is proof that SystemC is alive and well within Synopsys to enable our system-level tools for customers involved with pre-silicon embedded software development and embedded software verification.
We at Synopsys have already fully endorsed TLM-2.0. We view TLM-2.0 as an important step to help further SystemC’s adoption as the virtual platform infrastructure for embedded software development. Our system-level solutions team has been very active in helping drive standardization after we contributed key virtual platform technology to OSCI in January 2007. Going forward, we will support SystemC TLM-2.0 in our Innovator and DesignWare® System-Level Library products.
What is impressive about the TLM-2.0 standardization is the number of supporters it has throughout the industry. OSCI gave out a quote sheet along with their press release which I’m sure they’d be happy to distribute upon request. The completion of TLM-2.0 was applauded and endorsed by almost 30 companies and organizations representing users, IP providers, EDA suppliers, and service providers. The industry is essentially pledging interoperability.
It’s good to see the cooperative side of the standards game.
EDA standards blog The Standards Game
SystemC OSCI Open SystemC Initiative
Transaction-level modeling TLM TLM-2.0
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I can hardly believe it. I’ve been in the EDA business since 1980 when I joined TI’s Design Automation Department after graduating from Cal Poly with my BSEE. Since 1995, much of my attention has been focused on EDA standards. I reached a moment of truth this year when I admitted, albeit reluctantly, that I could be called a standards-lifer. So, I decided it’s time to share my perspectives on what’s going on in the standards arena. Welcome to my blog - I can’t wait to hear from you!

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