Node:What is GHDL, Previous:What is VHDL, Up:Introduction
GHDL?GHDL is a shorthand for G Hardware Design Language. Currently, G has no meaning.
GHDL is a VHDL compiler that can execute (nearly) any VHDL program. GHDL is not a synthesis tool: you cannot create a netlist with GHDL.
Unlike some other simulators, GHDL is a compiler: it directly translates a VHDL file to machine code, using the GCC back-end and without using an intermediary language such as C or C++. Therefore, the compiled code should be faster and the analysis time should be shorter than with a compiler using an intermediary language.
The current version of GHDL does not contain any graphical viewer: you cannot see signal waves. You can still check with a test bench. The current version can produce a VCD file which can be viewed with a wave viewer.
GHDL aims at implementing VHDL as defined by IEEE 1076. It supports most of the 1987 standard and most features added by the 1993 standard.