waveform-debugging

What problem does it solve?

Waveform debugging helps you quickly identify where and why a hardware design fails by tracing the earliest divergence, the source of X/Z propagation, and the presence of timing or logic errors seen in simulation.

Core Features & Use Cases

• Waveform dumping control: Set up VCD/FSDB dumping and limit it to the smallest useful scope to keep iteration fast.
• Signal tracing methods: Use $display-style prints and file logging to trace values at the exact failing times and cycles.
• Debug strategies for convergence: Apply binary search, reverse tracing from an error, or compare known-good vs known-bad runs to find the divergence point.
• Bug-pattern recognition: Detect common root causes such as uninitialized/multi-driven X values, combinational glitches, missing transactions, and edge/enable timing issues.

Quick Start

Use the waveform-debugging skill to analyze the failing simulation waveform by selecting the earliest divergence cycle and tracing back the origin of any X/Z propagation using scoped dumping and reverse tracing.