Verilog

Description #

Verilog is a hardware description language (HDL) used to model, simulate, and implement digital electronic systems such as processors, FPGAs, and ASICs. It describes hardware circuits structurally and behaviorally and compiles to gate-level logic.

History #

Verilog was created in 1984 by Phil Moorby at Gateway Design Automation and became an IEEE standard in 1995 (IEEE 1364). It rose in popularity alongside VHDL and remains a foundational tool in digital design, simulation, and hardware verification. It’s now part of the SystemVerilog family, with extended features for verification and modeling.

Hello World Code #

module hello;
  initial begin
    $display("Hello, World!");
    $finish;
  end
endmodule

How to Run #

Option 1: Online
https://www.edaplayground.com/x/4Sbk

Option 2: Local

• Install Icarus Verilog
• Save as hello.v and run: bashCopyEditiverilog -o hello hello.v vvp hello

Key Concepts #

• Syntax style: C-like, structured, declarative and procedural blocks
• Typing discipline: Net-based types, data-flow driven (wire, reg)
• Execution model: Simulates concurrent hardware processes
• Common use cases: ASIC/FPGA design, simulation, verification
• Toolchain or ecosystem: Icarus Verilog, ModelSim, Verilator, GTKWave
• Paradigms supported: Structural and behavioral hardware modeling
• Compilation details: Parsed and compiled into logic gates or netlists
• Strengths or quirks: Event-driven simulation, time-aware constructs (#10)
• Libraries/frameworks: IEEE PLI, SystemVerilog (extension)
• Community/adoption: Widespread in academia and industry; standard for chip design

Try It Online #

https://www.edaplayground.com

Fun Facts #

Verilog is not used to write programs — it’s used to design hardware. A Verilog “program” actually defines how electrical signals flow through gates and flip-flops. Most CPUs and GPUs begin life in Verilog or VHDL.

Resources #

• Icarus Verilog
• EDAPlayground Verilog Tools
• Verilog Guide
• GitHub: Verilog Examples