Integrating Custom Instruction Specifications into C Development Processes

Abstract. We describe a new approach for creating hardware description language (HDL) specifications for custom instructions, to form part of the instruction-set architecture (ISA) of an application specific instruction set processor (ASIP). Our approach integrates fully into the traditional C development process, binding tightly with software source code and simplifying the ASIP optimisation process. Our tool is also free software, facilitating its use in future research.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2006
• Where: ARC
• Authors: Jack Whitham, Neil C. Audsley
• Keywords: Application Specific Instruction Set Processor, ARC 2006, ASIP Optimisation Process, Hardware, Hardware Description Language