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# nextpnr netlist structures documentation
The current in-memory design in nextpnr uses several basic structures. See the
[FAQ](faq.md) for more info on terminology.
See also the [Arch API reference](archapi.md) for information on developing new architectures and accessing the architecture database.
- `CellInfo`: instantiation of a physical block in the netlist (currently, all cells in nextpnr are blackboxes.)
- `NetInfo`: a connection between cell ports. Has at most one driver; and zero or more users
- `BaseCtx`: contains all cells and nets, subclassed by `Arch` and then becomes `Context`
Other structures used by these basic structures include:
- `Property`: stores a numeric or string value - isomorphic to `RTLIL::Const` in Yosys
- `PortInfo`: stores the name, direction and connected net (if applicable) of cell ports
- `PortRef`: used to reference the source/sink ports of a net; refers back to a cell and a port name
## CellInfo
`CellInfo` instances have the following fields:
- `name` and `type` are `IdString`s containing the instance name, and type
- `hierpath` is name of the hierarchical cell containing the instance, for designs with hierarchy
- `ports` is a map from port name `IdString` to `PortInfo` structures for each cell port
- `bel` and `belStrength` contain the ID of the Bel the cell is placed onto; and placement strength of the cell; if placed. Placement/ripup should always be done by `Arch::bindBel` and `Arch::unbindBel` rather than by manipulating these fields.
- `params` and `attrs` store parameters and attributes - from the input JSON or assigned in flows to add metadata - by mapping from parameter name `IdString` to `Property`.
- The `constr_` fields are for relative constraints:
- `constr_parent` is a reference to the cell this cell is constrained with respect to; or `nullptr` if not relatively constrained. If not `nullptr`, this cell should be in the parent's `constr_children`.
- `constr_children` is a list of cells relatively constrained to this one. All children should have `constr_parent == this`.
- `constr_x` and `constr_y` are absolute (`constr_parent == nullptr`) or relative (`constr_parent != nullptr`) tile coordinate constraints. If set to `UNCONSTR` then the cell is not constrained in this axis (defaults to `UNCONSTR`)
- `constr_z` is an absolute (`constr_abs_z`) or relative (`!constr_abs_z`) 'Z-axis' (index inside tile, e.g. logic cell) constraint
- `region` is a reference to a `Region` if the cell is constrained to a placement region (e.g. for partial reconfiguration or out-of-context flows) or `nullptr` otherwise.
## NetInfo
`NetInfo` instances have the following fields:
- `name` is the IdString name of the net - for nets with multiple names, one name is chosen according to a set of rules by the JSON frontend
- `hierpath` is name of the hierarchical cell containing the instance, for designs with hierarchy
- `driver` refers to the source of the net using `PortRef`; `driver.cell == nullptr` means that the net is undriven. Nets must have zero or one driver only. The corresponding cell port must be an output and its `PortInfo::net` must refer back to this net.
- `users` contains a list of `PortRef` references to sink ports on the net. Nets can have zero or more sinks. Each corresponding cell port must be an input or inout; and its `PortInfo::net` must refer back to this net.
- `wires` is a map that stores the routing tree of a net, if the net is routed.
- Each entry in `wires` maps from *sink* wire in the routing tree to its driving pip, and the binding strength of that pip (e.g. how freely the router may rip up the pip)
- Manipulation of this structure is done automatically by `Arch::bindWire`, `Arch::unbindWire`, `Arch::bindPip` and `Arch::unbindPip`; which should almost always be used in lieu of manual manipulation
- `attrs` stores metadata about the wire (which may come from the JSON or be added by passes)
- `clkconstr` contains the period constraint if the wire is a constrained clock; or is empty otherwise
- `region` is a reference to a `Region` if the net is constrained to a device region or `nullptr` otherwise (_N.B. not supported by the current router_).
## BaseCtx/Context
Relevant fields from a netlist point of view are:
- `cells` is a map from cell name to a `unique_ptr<CellInfo>` containing cell data
- `nets` is a map from net name to a `unique_ptr<NetInfo>` containing net data
- `net_aliases` maps every alias for a net to its canonical name (i.e. index into `nets`) - net aliases often occur when a net has a name both inside a submodule and higher level module
- `ports` is a list of top level ports, primarily used during JSON export (e.g. to produce a useful post-PnR simulation model). Unlike other ports, top level ports are _not_ added to the driver or users of any connected net. In this sense, nets connected to top-level ports are _dangling_. However, top level ports _can_ still see their connected net as part of their `PortInfo`.
- `port_cells` is a map of top level port cells. This is a subset of the `cells` maps containing only ports.
Context also has a method `check()` that ensures all of the contracts met above are satisfied. It is strongly suggested to run this after any pass that may modify the netlist.
## Performance Improvements
Two features are provided to enable performance improvements in some algorithms, generally by reducing the number of `unordered_map` accesses.
The first is `udata`. This is a field of both nets and cells that can be used to give an index into algorithm-specific structures, such as a flat `vector` of cells. Placers and routers may use this for any purpose, but it should not be used to exchange data between passes.
The second is `ArchCellInfo` and `ArchNetInfo`. These are provided by architectures and used as base classes for `CellInfo` and `NetInfo` respectively. They allow architectures to tag information that is needed frequently - for example the clock polarity and clock net for a flipflop are needed for placement validity checking. They should only be used inside arch-specific code, and are lost when netlists are saved/loaded thus must not be used as primary storage - usually these should mirror attributes/parameters. `assignArchInfo` should set these up accordingly.
## Helper Functions - Context
`Context` and its subclass `BaseCtx` provides several helper functions that are often needed inside CAD algorithms.
- `nameOfBel`, `nameOfWire`, and `nameOfPip` gets the name of an identified object as a C string, often used in conjunction with the logging functions
- `nameOf` is similar to above but for netlist objects that have a `name` field (e.g. cells, nets, etc)
- `getNetinfoSourceWire` gets the physical wire `WireId` associated with the source of a net
- `getNetinfoSinkWire` gets the physical wire `WireId` associated with a given sink (specified by `PortRef`)
- `getNetinfoRouteDelay` gets the routing delay - actual if the net is fully routed, estimated otherwise - between the source and a given sink of a net
- `getNetByAlias` returns the pointer to a net given any of its aliases - this should be used in preference to a direct lookup in `nets` whenever a net name is provided by the user
## Hierarchy
As most place and route algorithms require a flattened netlist to work with (consider - each leaf cell instance must have its own bel), the primary netlist structures are flattened. However, some tasks such as floorplanning require an understanding of hierarchy.
`HierarchicalCell` is the main data structure for storing hierarchy. This represents an instance of a hierarchical, rather than leaf cell (leaf cells are represented by a `CellInfo`).
- `name` and `type` are the instance name and cell type
- `parent` is the hierarchical path of the parent cell, and `fullpath` is the hierarchical path of this cell
- `leaf_cells`, `nets` map from a name inside the hierarchical cell to a 'global' name in the flattened netlist (i.e. one that indexes into `ctx->{cells,nets}`)
- `leaf_cells_by_gname`, `nets_by_gname` are the inverse of the above maps; going from `{CellInfo,NetInfo}::name` to an instance name inside the cell
- `hier_cells` maps instance names of sub-hierarchical (non-leaf) cells to global names (indexing into `ctx->hierarchy`)
To preserve hierarchy during passes such as packing, ensure that `hierpath` is set on new cells derived from existing ones, and call `fixupHierarchy()` at the end to rebuild `HierarchicalCell` structures.
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