Development and evaluation of the HDFG Editor

Abstract

Reconfigurable computing is a technique used to speed up computer programs by using a combination of hardware and software implementation. The Delft workbench is a tool chain for reconfigurable computing, making it possible to design software without knowledge of the underlying hardware. One function of this tool chain is to convert source code to a hardware description. The DWARV toolset performs this function. While doing so, it uses Hierarchical Data Flow Graphs (HDGFs), which contain data dependencies in the original source code. HDGFs only exist in a binary format and there is no easy way to modify them. This thesis describes the design process of a program, the HDFG Editor. This process consists of a few steps. First, the functional and non-functional requirements were determined. To prevent improper interpretation of the requirements, a set of use cases was created and prioritized. Next, an analysis of available applications and libraries took place. A concept user interface was also designed to get an idea of the visual outline of the application at an early stage. With the decision of Irrlicht as a graphics engine the implementation could commence. Implementation of an application entails creating algorithms and analyzing code. With adaptability as a main focus point some trade-offs were made concerning run-time as scripts are sometimes preferred to code. Concluding, the running time for the project proved to be insufficient to finish the HDFG Editor. Part of the functionality has been implemented but not enough to put to the program to use. However, the work done provides a solid base should the project be picked up in the future.