PD-XML: extensible markup language for processor description

Abstract

This paper introduces PD-XML, a meta-language for describing instruction processors in general and with an emphasis on embedded processors, with the specific aim of enabling their rapid prototyping, evaluation and eventual design and implementation. PD-XML is not specific to any one architecture, compiler or simulation environment and hence provides greater flexibility than related machine description methodologies. We demonstrate how PD-XML can be interfaced to existing description methodologies and tool-flows. In particular we show how PD-XML specifications can be translated into appropriate machine descriptions for the parametric HPL-PD VLIW processor, and for the Flexible Instruction Processor (FIP) approach targeting reconfigurable implementations.