Chapter 1 - What Is ESL?

Abstract

This chapter reveals that the electronic system-level (ESL) design is a successor to the venerable and still-used term “system-level design” (SLD), are numerous and confusing. ESL design is an emerging electronic design methodology that focuses on the higher abstraction level concerns first and foremost. ESL is now an established approach at most of the world's leading System-on-a-chip (SoC) designs companies, and is being used increasingly in system design. ESL can be accomplished through the use of SystemC as an abstract modelling language. The problem with ESL is manifested by both of these definitions. ESL seems to be a collection of many different activities and methodologies for designing “systems” of various types. These “systems” are electronic based, yet they involve both hardware and software. The move to ESL design and verification is a fundamental shift in design methodology. It offers measurable improvements in design productivity, design quality, and reduction of risk in product development. There are no other shifts in the design process that hold as much promise and demonstrated results in better meeting design objectives than ESL.