nLint is a comprehensive HDL design rule checker fully integrated with the Verdi and Debussy debug systems. The Debussy system accelerates users understanding of complex designs to improve design, verification, and debug productivity. nLint adds the ability to fully analyze the HDL for syntax and semantic errors.

nLint helps designers create correct HDL code by performing source code checks to ensure conformance with design rules such as synchronous design, clocking scheme, naming conventions, and testability.

nLint helps uncovers errors early to reduce simulator, synthesizer, and ATPG run time and to reduce debug time. With nLint, users more easily create readable and maintainable code. They can enforce coding standards across design teams to achieve design re-use goals.

nLint operates on design data stored in the Knowledge Database. Users organize files and rules in nLint s graphical Control Center to specify which files to check and not to check, which rules to check, and to specify parameters for customizable rules such as maximum name length.

nLint can be launched either from its own Control Center or from the command line so that it can be used in check-in scripts.

Users view results in a tree structure sorted by categories and rules, and can expand the tree to see detailed messages. They can open the source file for viewing or editing simply by clicking on a message, and they can save results for viewing later.

Integration with Verdi and Debussy allows a click on an error message to open the source file in nTrace and automatically jump to the erroneous source line. Users can then analyze the design with Verdi s and Debussy s source tracing, schematic, and FSM visualization tools.