Verilator
The fastest free Verilog HDL simulator.
Overview
Verilator is a high-performance, open-source Verilog and SystemVerilog simulator. It works by compiling synthesizable HDL code into a highly optimized C++ or SystemC model. This compiled model can then be linked with a C++ testbench, resulting in simulation speeds that are often significantly faster than traditional event-driven simulators. It is widely used for block-level verification and system-level modeling.
✨ Key Features
- High-speed Verilog/SystemVerilog to C++/SystemC compilation
- Support for synthesizable subset of SystemVerilog
- Multithreaded simulation for parallel execution
- Generates clean, human-readable C++ code
- Support for code coverage analysis
- Free and open source
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Extremely high simulation performance due to its compiled-code approach
- Completely free and open source, with an active development community
- Excellent for integration into software-based verification environments
Unique Value: Provides the fastest available Verilog simulation speed, for free, by converting HDL designs into optimized, multithreaded C++ models.
🎯 Use Cases (5)
✅ Best For
- Verification of open-source RISC-V processor cores
- Simulation of large, cycle-accurate system models
- Used in production environments at major semiconductor companies
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Simulation of non-synthesizable, event-driven testbenches
- VHDL designs (Verilator does not support VHDL)
- Users who require a full graphical debugging IDE
🏆 Alternatives
Offers orders-of-magnitude faster simulation than event-driven simulators like Icarus Verilog or the free editions of commercial tools, at the cost of being limited to synthesizable constructs and requiring a C++ testbench.
💻 Platforms
✅ Offline Mode Available
🔌 Integrations
💰 Pricing
Free tier: Verilator is completely free and open source.
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