How HDL Arena compares AI-generated RTL
HDL Arena helps ASIC and RTL engineers compare AI models generating Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL from the same hardware specification. Users review anonymous code candidates, vote, and then inspect model identities and available compilation and generic synthesis results.
Common questions
Does HDL Arena compare AI models or HDL languages?
HDL Arena compares AI models. You describe a hardware block and select one output language for both candidates. The backend infers the RTL category from your prompt; you do not need to select a category.
Which generated languages can HDL Arena check?
HDL Arena generates Verilog, SystemVerilog, and VHDL. Its current tool flow uses Icarus Verilog and Yosys for supported Verilog and SystemVerilog designs. VHDL generation is available, but VHDL compilation and synthesis are not supported by this flow.
Does passing compilation prove that RTL is correct?
No. Compilation checks whether a design can be processed by the compiler. Generic synthesis checks whether supported constructs can be synthesized. Neither proves functional correctness. Verify generated RTL with your own testbenches, assertions, formal checks, and target implementation flow.
Does the area result measure physical silicon area?
No. HDL Arena reports a generic synthesized cell count, not physical silicon area, timing, or power. Cell count is useful context for reviewing a design, but a smaller result is not automatically better or functionally correct.
What do votes and AI review scores measure?
Votes record human preferences between generated candidates. AI review scores are subjective model assessments. Neither is a correctness measurement. Leaderboard ratings combine frozen external reference priors with local votes; they are not a controlled RTL verification benchmark.