.. -*- rst -*-

============
DSX Concepts
============

DSX is a hardware/software codesign tool which helps building,
testing, evaluating and optimizing a System-on-Chip.

*Application* defines the purpose, and sets the performance goals for
the system.

DSX splits the description of the system in four parts:

* Design of the abstract :ref:`concept-application` through a
  :ref:`concept-tcg` (Tcg),

* Design of the :ref:`concept-task` and one or more
  :ref:`concept-task-implementation` per task,

* Design of the :ref:`concept-platform` netlist,

* :ref:`concept-mapping` of the *application* on the *platform*.

From these descriptions, DSX generates:

* A SystemC virtual prototype corresponding to the user's netlist,
  containing:

  * Stock `SoCLib <http://www.soclib.fr/>`_ components,

  * Users' own hardware coprocessors;

* A binary firmware image to load in the virtual prototype containing:

  * A dedicated `MutekH kernel <http://www.mutekh.org/>`_ build,

  * Some software-support glue code and middleware,

  * Users' own software task code.

* SystemC prototype and the firmware constitute a complete
  System-on-Chip.

.. figure:: /_static/mapy.*

   The DSX design flow.

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 3

   application
   platform
   mapping