Verilog Digital System Design
Hardware description languages are used to design high density VLSI, allowing designers to put millions of transistors on a single substrate. Verilog is closing in on VHDL as the most popular of the hardware description languages. This is a tutorial in designing with Verilog. Each major chapter features in-depth Verilog examples of the coding described, and all the examples are assembled into a final full CPU design. The CD-ROM includes a Verilog simulator and all examples worked in the book.
Why Read This Book
You should read this book if you want a hands-on, example-driven introduction to writing synthesizable Verilog and assembling modules into a complete system: Navabi guides you from language basics to a full CPU implementation with working examples and a simulator. The emphasis on practical coding styles, testbenches and a full-system example makes it useful for engineers who learn by building.
Who Will Benefit
Early-career digital designers, students, or engineers transitioning to HDL-based design who want practical experience writing Verilog RTL and integrating modules into a larger system.
Level: Intermediate — Prerequisites: Basic digital logic (gates, combinational/sequential circuits), Boolean algebra, and some programming familiarity (C or similar). No prior HDL experience required but helpful.
Key Takeaways
- Write synthesizable RTL in Verilog using structural and behavioral styles.
- Design and implement finite-state machines and control logic for complex systems.
- Assemble datapath components into a working CPU and integrate memory/peripherals.
- Create effective testbenches and run simulation-driven debugging on Verilog designs.
- Apply synthesis-aware coding practices and understand how Verilog maps to gates/FPGA resources.
- Modularize and hierarchically organize large digital designs for reuse and clarity.
Topics Covered
- Introduction to Digital Design and Verilog
- Verilog Language Basics: Lexical Elements, Data Types, Operators
- Modeling Styles: Gate-, Dataflow-, Behavioral-, and Structural Modeling
- Modules, Ports, Parameters and Hierarchical Design
- Sequential Logic and Finite State Machines
- Tasks, Functions and Testbench Techniques
- Timing, Delays, and Simulation Semantics
- Synthesis Guidelines and Coding for Hardware
- Memory, Buses and Peripheral Interfacing
- Building the CPU: Datapath Components
- Building the CPU: Control Unit and FSM Implementation
- Putting it Together: System Integration, Simulation Examples, and Lab Exercises
Languages, Platforms & Tools
How It Compares
Covers similar introductory ground to Samir Palnitkar's 'Verilog HDL' but is heavier on full-system examples (a complete CPU) and practical lab-style content; more hands-on than academic/reference texts such as Peter Ashenden's treatment.
