Using VHDL to autocheck circuits

[wmuece]

SInce Digital provides VHDL export, we have been exploring the possibility of machine grading circuit designs. Unfortunately two identical circuits can have different VHDL exports depending upon the order that the components are placed in the circuit, making autograding more difficult. Would searching the component tree view (that was recently added) lend itself to easier machine grading? I prefer to grade using VHDL as it is a known language.

[hneemann]

It is difficult to develop something like a generic program code, so that all circuits that do the same thing are exported to the same VHDL code, no matter what the circuit looks like.

To implement an automatic grading, I think it is better to test the function, as it is possible with the test cases on the command line, instead of trying to evaluate the generated VHDL code. It can happen too easily that a circuit works, but the VHDL code is not recognized as correct.

[wmuece]

Ok, I understand that. We do output testing as well, and that is something that is not affected by the order of placement of components. However, we are also interested in verifying that a student indeed constructed the circuit, the VHDL code of which varies between identical circuits simply because of the sequence of placement of the components in the schematic.

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On Apr 10, 2021, at 2:38 PM, Helmut Neemann ***@***.***> wrote: It is difficult to develop something like a generic program code, so that all circuits that do the same thing are exported to the same VHDL code, no matter what the circuit looks like. To implement an automatic grading, I think it is better to test the function, as it is possible with the test cases on the command line, instead of trying to evaluate the generated VHDL code. It can happen too easily that a circuit works, but the VHDL code is not recognized as correct. — You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#706 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AALLV2HO44BHYVELSYDFS2LTICLKDANCNFSM42WYHEBA>.