Abstract
In this paper, we compare the underlying models of computation of the system description languages SystemC and Esterel. Although these languages have a rather different origin, we show that the execution/simulation of programs written in these languages consists of many corresponding computation steps. As a consequence, we identify different classes of Esterel programs that can be easily translated to SystemC processes and vice versa. Moreover, we identify concepts like preemption in Esterel that are difficult to implement in a structured way in SystemC.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
A. Benveniste, P. Caspi, S. Edwards, N. Halbwachs, P. Le Guernic, and R. de Simone. The synchronous languages twelve years later. Proceedings of the IEEE, 91(1):64–83, 2003.
G. Berry. The foundations of Esterel. In G. Plotkin, C. Stirling, and M. Tofte, editors, Proof, Language and Interaction: Essays in Honour of Robin Milner. MIT Press, Cambridge, USA 1998.
G. Berry. The constructive semantics of pure Esterel. http://www-sop.inria.fr/esterel.org/, July 1999.
G. Berry and L. Cosserat. The synchronous programming language Esterel and its mathematical semantics. In S.D. Brookes, A.W. Roscoe, and G. Winskel, editors, Seminar on Concurrency, volume 197 of LNCS, pages 389–448, Springer Pittsburgh, PA 1984.
G. Berry and R. de Simone. The Esterel language. Proceedings of the IEEE, 79:1293–1304, 1991.
J.A. Brzozowski and C.-J.H. Seger. Asynchronous Circuits. Springer, New York 1995.
S. Edwards. Compiling concurrent languages for sequential processors. ACM Transactions on Design Automation of Electronic Systems (TODAES), 8(2):141–187, 2003.
N. Halbwachs. Synchronous Programming of Reactive Systems. Kluwer Dordrecht, 1993.
IEEE Computer Society. IEEE Standard VHDL Language Reference Manual. New York, 2000. IEEE Std. 1076–2000.
IEEE Computer Society. IEEE Standard Hardware Description Language Based on the Verilog Hardware Description Language. New York, 2001. IEEE Std. 1394–2001.
IEEE Computer Society. IEEE Standard SystemC Language Reference Manual. New York, USA, December 2005. IEEE Std. 1666–2005.
IEEE Computer Society. IEEE Standard Esterel Language Reference Manual. New York, USA, to appear 2007. IEEE Std. 1778.
Open SystemC Initiative. SystemC Version 2.1 User’s Guide, 2005.
W. Müller, J. Ruf, D. Hoffmann, J. Gerlach, T. Kropf, and W. Rosenstiel. The simulation semantics of SystemC. In Design, Automation and Test in Europe (DATE), pages 64–70, IEEE Computer Society Munich, Germany, 2001.
W. Müller, J. Ruf, and W. Rosenstiel. An ASM based SystemC simulation semantics. In W. Müller, J. Ruf, and W. Rosenstiel, editors, SystemC–Methodologies and Applications, pages 97–126, Kluwer Dordrecht, 2003.
K. Schneider. Proving the equivalence of microstep and macrostep semantics. In V. Carreño, C. Muñoz, and S. Tahar, editors, Theorem Proving in Higher Order Logic (TPHOL), volume 2410 of LNCSpages 314–331, Springer Hampton, VA, 2002.
K. Schneider, J. Brandt, and T. Schuele. A verified compiler for synchronous programs with local declarations. Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science (ENTCS), 153(4):71–97, 2006.
K. Schneider, J. Brandt, T. Schuele, and T. Tuerk. Improving constructiveness in code generators. In Synchronous Languages, Applications, and Programming (SLAP), Edinburgh, 2005.
K. Schneider, J. Brandt, T. Schuele, and T. Tuerk. Maximal causality analysis. In Application of Concurrency to System Design (ACSD), pages 106–115, IEEE Computer Society St. Malo, France, 2005.
K. Schneider, J. Brandt, and E. Vecchié. Efficient code generation from synchronous programs. In F. Brewer and J.C. Hoe editors, Formal Methods and Models for Codesign (MEMOCODE), pages 165–174, IEEE Computer Society Napa Valley, CA, 2006.
K. Schneider, J. Brandt, and E. Vecchié. Modular compilation of synchronous programs. In IFIP Conference on Distributed and Parallel Embedded Systems (DIPES), Springer Braga, Portugal, 2006.
R.K. Shyamasundar, F. Doucet, R. Gupta, and I.H. Krüger. Compositional reactive semantics of SystemC and verification in RuleBase. In Workshop on Next Generation Design and Verification Methodologies for Distributed Embedded Control Systems, 2007.
B. Stroustrup. The C++ Programming Language Series in Computer Science. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1986.
J. Zeng, C. Soviani, and S.A. Edwards. Generating fast code from concurrent program dependence graphs. In Languages, Compilers, and Tools for Embedded Systems (LCTES), pages 175–181, ACM Washington, DC, 2004.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer Science + Business Media B.V
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Brandt, J., Schneider, K. (2008). How Different Are Esterel and SystemC. In: Villar, E. (eds) Embedded Systems Specification and Design Languages. Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8297-9_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8297-9_1
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-8296-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-8297-9
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)