In a chat, a friend brought up Cocotb, suggesting I test it out as it's gaining attention.
After a quick Google search, I dove in. This post marks my first venture into Cocotb.
You can find the code in this GitHub repository.
What is Cocotb?
Cocotb is an open-source Python-based framework used for verifying digital designs. It stands for "Coroutine-based Co-simulation TestBench," and it allows for the creation of testbenches in Python for verifying hardware designs described in HDL (Hardware Description Language) such as Verilog or VHDL.
Here are the resources that helped me learn this framework.
learn Cocotb (essential) this 6 video series cover the basic of Cocotb how it works and some verification theory
Cocotb's documentation the main framework documentation
Cocotb coverage how to include functional coverage
Constraint random How to manipulate stimuli with constraint random generator
Cocotb bus contains pre-packaged testbenching tools and reusable bus interfaces for cocotb.
I've constructed a test bench to validate a newsstand vending machine. It features a straightforward state machine that accepts coins, dispenses newspapers, and provides change if necessary. For a more detailed explanation, please consult the GitHub repository.
My initial experience with this framework has been quite positive. I was able to build this example in less than two days, highlighting the framework's potential for writing test benches in Python. With access to numerous packages, ease of coding, and a large community, the possibilities seem endless. However, I'm left with countless questions, such as how to create intricate constraint randomizations, complex cover groups, and replacing fork-join with its various alternatives. In my upcoming posts, I plan to delve deeper into this framework, aiming to address some of these inquiries. Ultimately, I aspire to integrate pyuvm, another framework built on top of Cocotb. I invite you to join me on this journey.
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