cxxrtl: add a C API for driving and introspecting designs.

Compared to the C++ API, the C API currently has two limitations:
  1. Memories cannot be updated in a race-free way.
  2. Black boxes cannot be implemented in C.

backends/cxxrtl/cxxrtl_capi.h

@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+/*
+ *  yosys -- Yosys Open SYnthesis Suite
+ *
+ *  Copyright (C) 2020  whitequark <whitequark@whitequark.org>
+ *
+ *  Permission to use, copy, modify, and/or distribute this software for any
+ *  purpose with or without fee is hereby granted.
+ *
+ *  THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES
+ *  WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
+ *  MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR
+ *  ANY SPECIAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
+ *  WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
+ *  ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
+ *  OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
+ *
+ */
+
+#ifndef CXXRTL_CAPI_H
+#define CXXRTL_CAPI_H
+
+// This file is a part of the CXXRTL C API. It should be used together with `cxxrtl_capi.cc`.
+//
+// The CXXRTL C API makes it possible to drive CXXRTL designs using C or any other language that
+// supports the C ABI, for example, Python. It does not provide a way to implement black boxes.
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+// Opaque reference to a design toplevel.
+//
+// A design toplevel can only be used to create a design handle.
+typedef struct _cxxrtl_toplevel *cxxrtl_toplevel;
+
+// The constructor for a design toplevel is provided as a part of generated code for that design.
+// Its prototype matches:
+//
+// cxxrtl_toplevel <design-name>_create();
+
+// Opaque reference to a design handle.
+//
+// A design handle is required by all operations in the C API.
+typedef struct _cxxrtl_handle *cxxrtl_handle;
+
+// Create a design handle from a design toplevel.
+//
+// The `design` is consumed by this operation and cannot be used afterwards.
+cxxrtl_handle cxxrtl_create(cxxrtl_toplevel design);
+
+// Release all resources used by a design and its handle.
+void cxxrtl_destroy(cxxrtl_handle handle);
+
+// Simulate the design to a fixed point.
+//
+// Returns the number of delta cycles.
+size_t cxxrtl_step(cxxrtl_handle handle);
+
+// Type of a simulated object.
+enum cxxrtl_type {
+	// Values correspond to singly buffered netlist nodes, i.e. nodes driven exclusively by
+	// combinatorial cells, or toplevel input nodes.
+	//
+	// Values can be inspected via the `curr` pointer and modified via the `next` pointer (which are
+	// equal for values); however, note that changes to the bits driven by combinatorial cells will
+	// be ignored.
+	//
+	// Values always have depth 1.
+	CXXRTL_VALUE = 0,
+
+	// Wires correspond to doubly buffered netlist nodes, i.e. nodes driven, at least in part, by
+	// storage cells, or by combinatorial cells that are a part of a feedback path.
+	//
+	// Wires can be inspected via the `curr` pointer and modified via the `next` pointer (which are
+	// distinct for wires); however, note that changes to the bits driven by combinatorial cells will
+	// be ignored.
+	//
+	// Wires always have depth 1.
+	CXXRTL_WIRE = 1,
+
+	// Memories correspond to memory cells.
+	//
+	// Memories can be inspected and modified via the `curr` pointer. Due to a limitation of this
+	// API, memories cannot yet be modified in a guaranteed race-free way, and the `next` pointer is
+	// always NULL.
+	CXXRTL_MEMORY = 2,
+
+	// More object types will be added in the future, but the existing ones will never change.
+};
+
+// Description of a simulated object.
+//
+// The `data` array can be accessed directly to inspect and, if applicable, modify the bits
+// stored in the object.
+struct cxxrtl_object {
+	// Type of the object.
+	//
+	// All objects have the same memory layout determined by `width` and `depth`, but the type
+	// determines all other properties of the object.
+	uint32_t type; // actually `enum cxxrtl_type`
+
+	// Width of the object in bits.
+	size_t width;
+
+	// Depth of the object. Only meaningful for memories; for other objects, always 1.
+	size_t depth;
+
+	// Bits stored in the object, as 32-bit chunks, least significant bits first.
+	//
+	// The width is rounded up to a multiple of 32; the padding bits are always set to 0 by
+	// the simulation code, and must be always written as 0 when modified by user code.
+	// In memories, every element is stored contiguously. Therefore, the total number of chunks
+	// in any object is `((width + 31) / 32) * depth`.
+	//
+	// To allow the simulation to be partitioned into multiple independent units communicating
+	// through wires, the bits are double buffered. To avoid race conditions, user code should
+	// always read from `curr` and write to `next`. The `curr` pointer is always valid; for objects
+	// that cannot be modified, or cannot be modified in a race-free way, `next` is NULL.
+	uint32_t *curr;
+	uint32_t *next;
+
+	// More description fields will be added in the future, but the existing ones will never change.
+};
+
+// Retrieve description of a simulated object.
+//
+// The `name` is the full hierarchical name of the object in the Yosys notation, where public names
+// have a `\` prefix and hierarchy levels are separated by single spaces. For example, if
+// the top-level module instantiates a module `foo`, which in turn contains a wire `bar`, the full
+// hierarchical name is `\foo \bar`.
+//
+// Returns the object if it was found, NULL otherwise. The returned value is valid until the design
+// is destroyed.
+struct cxxrtl_object *cxxrtl_get(cxxrtl_handle handle, const char *name);
+
+// Enumerate simulated objects.
+//
+// For every object in the simulation, `callback` is called with the provided `data`, the full
+// hierarchical name of the object (see `cxxrtl_get` for details), and the object description.
+// The provided `name` and `object` values are valid until the design is destroyed.
+void cxxrtl_enum(cxxrtl_handle handle, void *data,
+                 void (*callback)(void *data, const char *name, struct cxxrtl_object *object));
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif