RE: gEDA: A GPL Verilog "lint" advocate

[stevenwilson <stevenwilson-at-NOSPAMmicron_dot_com>]

I don't have a problem with some effort in time to 
produce such a Lint tool - all the more power to us ;-)

I WOULD argue that there is a need to understand first
that a LINT tool has a different goal than the compiler.
The compiler must accept any LEGAL verilog code, while the
LINT tool wants to warn you about not just incorrect code
but poor practices!  These are different tasks! 

NEXT  I'd argue that in order of importance, I'd want the 
compiler 1st and the LINT tool 2nd!  A free verilog compiler
is of MUCH more utility. Simple as that. Also one of my two
reasons for needing a lint tool has disappeared, that being to
save useage of $20K/per seat verilog compilers...got one of 
those already.

The second need - that of watching my coding practices is a 
nice tool that serves a VERY useful purpose - but isn't as
needed as the verilog compiler.  Horses go BEFORE the cart ;-)

Steve Wilson

-----Original Message-----
From: Brad Martin P.E. [mailto:brad@nshore.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 1999 8:49 AM
To: geda-dev@geda.seul.org
Subject: gEDA: A GPL Verilog "lint" advocate

The GPL Verilog work that is going on here is wonderful.
Thankfully, we can get inexpensive (well, $3K) Verilog
simulators to help blunt the impact of $20K mainstream
Verilog tool licenses. Regarding lint, I don't know of
ANY Verilog lint program besides Verilint, certainly not
a cheap or free one, and I personally know scores of people
who are dying for access to that type of tool.

Any "lint"-ish functions that make it into the work here
will widely increase the audience. This is a great thread.

- brad martin