Signoff Checklist

This document explains the recommended checklist items to review when transitioning from one Hardware Stage to another, for both design and verification stages. It is expected that the items in each stage (D1, V1, etc) are completed.

D1

For a transition from D0 to D1, the following items are expected be completed.

SPEC_COMPLETE

Spec complete, feature set finalized.

CSR_DEFINED

CSRs defined and generated.

CLKRST_CONNECTED

Clock(s)/Reset(s) connected to all sub-modules.

IP_TOP

Unit .sv exists, meet comportability requirements.

IP_INSTANTIABLE

Unit is able to be instantiated and bound in top level RTL. The unit must not break top level functionality such as propagating X through TL-UL interface, continuously asserting the interrupts, or creating undesired TL-UL transactions.

MEM_INSTANCED_80

80% of expected memories instantiated, using behavioral RAMs.

FUNC_IMPLEMENTED

Main functional path implemented.

ASSERT_KNOWN_ADDED

All the outputs of the IP have ASSERT_KNOWN assertions.

LINT_SETUP

Lint run setup, compiles and runs. It is acceptable to have lint errors and warnings at this stage.

D2

NEW_FEATURES

Any new features added since D1 are documented, reviewed with DV/SW/FPGA. Github Issue for RFC should be linked in Notes section.

BLOCK_DIAGRAM

Block diagrams updated.

DOC_INTERFACE

Documented non-registered block interfaces.

MISSING_FUNC

Documented the missing functionalities.

FEATURE_FROZEN

Feature requests for this IP version are frozen at this time.

FEATURE_COMPLETE

All features specified have been completed.

AREA_SANITY_CHECK

Area sanity check completed either on FPGA or on Design Compiler.

PORT_FROZEN

100% ports. Port is frozen.

ARCHITECTURE_FROZEN

100% architectural states exists (RAMs, CSRs, etc)

REVIEW_TODO

Review and sign off TODOs.

STYLE_X

Confirming to style guide regarding X usage. TODO: Related GitHub issue.

LINT_PASS

Lint passes. Waiver reviewed.

CDC_SETUP

CDC run set up. No must fix errors, waiver file created.

FPGA_TIMING

FPGA synthesis timing meet (Fmax-10%) target or better

CDC_SYNCMACRO

CDC Sync flops use behavioral synchronization macros(prim_flop_2sync) not 2flops.

D3

NEW_FEATURES_D3

Any approved new features since D2 documented, and reviewed with DV/SW/FPGA

TODO_COMPLETE

Resolve all TODOs.

LINT_COMPLETE

Lint clean. Lint waiver file reviewed and signed off by tech steering committe.

CDC_COMPLETE

CDC clean. CDC waiver file reviewed and signed off by tech sterring committe.

REVIEW_RTL

Hold Design Review: Hold a RTL sanity check review by an independent designer.

REVIEW_DELETED_FF

Hold Design Review: Sign off deleted flops list (one last time).

REVIEW_SW_CSR

Review Design Change with SW: Review CSRs

REVIEW_SW_FATAL_ERR

Review Design Change with SW: Review Fatal Errors

REVIEW_SW_CHANGE

Review Design Change with SW: Review other SW visible changes

REVIEW_SW_ERRATA

Review Design Change with SW: Review known “Won’t Fix” bugs and “Errata”.

V1

For a transition from V0 to V1, the following items are expected be completed. Prefix “SIM” is applicable for simulation-based DV approach only, while “FPV” is for FPV approach only.

DV_PLAN_DRAFT_COMPLETED

  • DV Plan document drafted, indicating the overall DV strategy, intent and the testbench environment details with diagrams, details on TB, UVCs, checkers, scoreboard, interfaces, assertions, coverage objects (if applicable).
  • Details may be missing since most items are not expected to be fully developed at this stage.

TESTPLAN_COMPLETED

A fully completed Testplan written in Hjson, indicating the list of planned tests with descriptions indicating the goal of the test and optionally details on stimulus and the checking procedure.

TB_TOP_CREATED

  • Top level testbench with DUT instantiated and following interfaces hooked up (as applicable): TileLink, clocks and resets, interrupts and major DUT interfaces.
  • All interfaces may not be hooked up at this point. Inputs for which interfaces have not yet been created may be tied off to 0.

PRELIMINARY_ASSERTION_CHECKS_ADDED

  • All available interface assertion monitors hooked up (example: tlul_assert).

SIM_TB_ENV_CREATED

  • UVM environment created with major interface agents and UVCs connected and instantiated.
  • TLM connections made from UVC monitors to the scoreboard.

SIM_RAL_MODEL_GEN_AUTOMATED

RAL model is generated by using regtool and instantiated in UVM environment.

CSR_CHECK_GEN_AUTOMATED

CSR check is generated by using regtool and bound in the TB environment.

TB_GEN_AUTOMATED

Full testbench automation completed if applicable. This may be required for verifying multiple flavors of parameterized DUT designs.

SIM_SANITY_TEST_PASSING

  • Sanity test exercising a basic functionality of a major DUT datapath passing.
  • What functionality to test and to what level may be governed by higher level (example: chip) integration requirements. These are to be captured when the Testplan is reviewed with the key stakeholders.

SIM_CSR_MEM_TEST_SUITE_PASSING

CSR test suite added for ALL interfaces that have access to system memory map (JTAG, TL, etc.):

  • HW reset test (test all resets)
  • CSR read/write
  • Bit Bash
  • Aliasing

Memory test suite added for ALL interfaces that have access to system memory map (JTAG, TL, etc.) if the DUT has memories:

  • Mem walk

Ensure all these tests verify back-2back access with zero delays, along with partial reads and partial writes.

FPV_MAIN_ASSERTIONS_PROVEN

  • Each input and each output of the module is part of at least one assertion.
  • Assertions for main functional path are implemented and proven.

SIM_ALT_TOOL_SETUP

Verify that the sanity test passes cleanly (with no warnings) with one additional tool apart from the primary tool selected for signoff.

SIM_SANITY_REGRESSION_SETUP

Sanity regression set up for code health. A small suite of tests identified for running the sanity regression on. If the testbench has more than one compile-time configuration, then a sanity test for each configuration should be ideally selected.

SIM_NIGHTLY_REGRESSION_SETUP

Nightly regression for running all tests with multiple random seeds (iterations) setup. Selecting the number of iterations for running each test is subjective - it depends on the failure rate and available compute resources. For starters, it is recommended to set iterations to 100 for each test. It may be trimmed down if the compute load is too high. As such, the goal should be to have the nightly regression finish overnight so that the results are available next morning for triage.

FPV_REGRESSION_SETUP

Set up FPV regression by adding the module to hw/formal/fpv_all script.

SIM_COVERAGE_MODEL_ADDED

  • Structural coverage collection model checked in. This specifies what hierarchies and what types of coverage to collect. For example, pre-verified sub-mudules (including some prim components pre-verified thoroughly with FPV) can be black-boxed and only IO toggle coverage can be setup for those sub-modules for coverage collection.
  • Functional coverage shell object created - this may not contain coverpoints or covergroups yet, but it is primed for use in post-V2 test development.

PRE_VERIFIED_SUB_MODULES_V1

Sub-modules that are pre-verified with their own testbenches have already reached V1 or higher stage.

DESIGN_SPEC_REVIEWED

RTL (uArch) specification reviewed and signed off.

DV_PLAN_TESTPLAN_REVIEWED

DV Plan & Testplan reviewed with key stakeholders - designer, design lead, DV lead, architects, higher level (chip) design and DV leads.

STD_TEST_CATEGORIES_PLANNED

Following categories of post-V1 tests focused at in the Testplan review (as applicable):

  • Security/error
  • Power
  • Performance
  • Debug
  • Stress

V2_CHECKLIST_SCOPED

Reviewed V2 checklist to understand scope and estimate effort.

V2

For a transition from V1 to V2, the following items are expected be completed. Prefix “SIM” is applicable for simulation-based DV approach only, while “FPV” is for FPV approach only.

DESIGN_DELTAS_CAPTURED_V2

It is possible for the design to have undergone some changes since the DV plan and Testplan was reviewed prior to V1 stage. Please ensure that those deltas have been captured adequately in the DV Plan and the Testplan documents.

DV_PLAN_COMPLETED

DV Plan is fully completed in terms of content.

ALL_INTERFACES_EXERCISED

  • For simulation based DV, all interfaces including sidebands have been connected and exercised.
  • For the FPV approach, all interfaces including sidebands are asserted.

ALL_ASSERTION_CHECKS_ADDED

All planned assertions have been written and enabled.

SIM_TB_ENV_COMPLETED

UVM environment fully developed with end-2-end checks in scoreboard enabled.

SIM_ALL_TESTS_PASSING

All tests in the Testplan written and passing with at least one random seed.

FPV_ALL_ASSERTIONS_WRITTEN

  • All assertions are implemented and above 90% proven.
  • Each output of the module contains at least one forward and one backward assertion check.
  • FPV module converges within reasonable runtime.

FPV_ALL_ASSUMPTIONS_REVIEWED

All assumptions are implemented and reviewed.

SIM_FW_SIMULATED

For chip-level, verified pieces of FW code (DIFs) in simulaton.

SIM_NIGHTLY_REGRESSION_V2

Nightly regression with multiple random seeds passing: 90%

SIM_CODE_COVERAGE_V2

Code coverage requirements: line, toggle, fsm (state & transition), branch, assertion: 90%

SIM_FUNCTIONAL_COVERAGE_V2

Functional coverage requirements: coverpoints: 100%, crosses: 75%

FPV_CODE_COVERAGE_V2

Code coverage requirements: branch, statement, functional: 90%

FPV_COI_COVERAGE_V2

COI coverage requirements: 75%

NO_HIGH_PRIORITY_ISSUES_PENDING

Ensure that all high priority (tagged P0 and P1) design bugs have been addressed and closed. If the bugs were found elsewhere, ensure that they are reproduced deterministically in DV (through additional tests or by tweaking existing tests as needed) and the fixes are adequately verified.

ALL_LOW_PRIORITY_ISSUES_ROOT_CAUSED

Ensure that all low priority (tagged P2 and P3) design bugs habe been root-caused. They may be deferred to post D2V2 for closure.

PRE_VERIFIED_SUB_MODULES_V2

Sub-modules that are pre-verified with their own testbenches have already reached V2 or higher stage.

V3_CHECKLIST_SCOPED

Reviewed V3 checklist to understand scope and estimate effort.

V3

For a transition from V2 to V3, the following items are expected be completed. Prefix “SIM” is applicable for simulation-based DV approach only, while “FPV” is for FPV approach only.

DESIGN_DELTAS_CAPTURED_V3

It is possible for the design to undergo changes even at this stage (when it is expected to be mature). Please ensure that those new deltas have been captured adequately in the DV Plan and the Testplan documents.

ALL_TODOS_RESOLVED

Ensure that the complete testbench code is free from TODOs.

X_PROP_ANALYSIS_COMPLETED

X Propagation Analysis complete

FPV_ASSERTIONS_PROVEN_AT_V3

  • Assertion proven requirement: 100% of properties proven
  • No undetermined or unreachable properties

SIM_NIGHTLY_REGRESSION_AT_V3

Nightly regression with multiple random seeds passing: 100% (with 1 week minimum soak time)

SIM_CODE_COVERAGE_AT_100

Code coverage requirements: line, toggle, fsm (state & transition), branch, assertion: 100%

SIM_FUNCTIONAL_COVERAGE_AT_100

Functional coverage requirements: coverpoints: 100%, crosses: 100%

FPV_CODE_COVERAGE_AT_100

Code coverage requirements: branch, statement, functional: 100%

FPV_COI_COVERAGE_AT_100

COI coverage requirements: 100%

NO_ISSUES_PENDING

Ensure that all design bugs have been addressed and closed.

NO_TOOL_WARNINGS_THROWN

Clean up all compile-time and run-time warnings thrown by the simulator.

PRE_VERIFIED_SUB_MODULES_V3

Sub-modules that are pre-verified with their own testbenches have already reached V3 stage.