AMBA 3 APB on EDA Playground

AMBA 3 APB on EDA Playground — Complete Series
LEARN · BUILD · VERIFY

AMBA 3 APB
on EDA Playground

A 5-phase, 3-month learning series. Build a spec-compliant APB implementation from scratch, verify every timing diagram, and sign off with a clean 13-test regression — all in your browser.

Reference spec: ARM IHI 0024B — AMBA 3 APB Protocol Specification v1.0
5 phases · 13 weeks · zero install required
Each post = one playground. Paste design.sv + testbench.sv → Run → done.
01
Spec & Environment Setup
Parameter package, the 10 APB signals (Table 4-1), SystemVerilog interface with modports, and 6 always-on SVA protocol assertions.
apb_pkg apb_if SVA × 6 §3 state machine
Wk 1–2
Low risk
›
02
RTL Implementation
APB master with IDLE→SETUP→ACCESS FSM. APB slave with 8×32-bit register file, PREADY wait-state extension, and PSLVERR error response.
apb_master apb_slave PREADY PSLVERR §2.3
Wk 3–5
Med risk
›
03
Functional Verification
7 directed tests — one per spec timing diagram. Write/read with and without wait states, failing write and read with PSLVERR, back-to-back transfers.
Fig 2-1 → 2-6 7 tests PSLVERR path EPWave
Wk 6–8
High risk
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04
Integration & Interface Testing
System-level tests: PSLVERR→BRESP[1] AXI mapping, PSLVERR→HRESP[0] AHB mapping (§2.3.3), reset sequence, and synchronous-transition checks.
AXI bridge AHB bridge §2.3.3 6 tests
Wk 9–10
Med risk
›
05
Sign-off Regression
All 13 tests in one simulation. Zero failures required to tag v1.0. Full EPWave trace covers every test group. Share this playground as your APB implementation proof.
13 tests v1.0 gate complete RTL shareable
Wk 11–12
Sign-off
›
Before you start

What you need

A browser and an EDA Playground account (free, Google/GitHub login). No software installation required.

Recommended simulator

Aldec Riviera-PRO for full SystemVerilog + SVA support. Icarus Verilog 12 works for Phases 1–5 but won’t fire SVA.

Background assumed

Basic SystemVerilog (always_ff, typedef, enum). No APB knowledge required — the spec is explained at every step.

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