MARK_DEBUG - 2022.1 English

Vivado Design Suite Properties Reference Guide

Document ID
UG912
Release Date
2022-06-08
Version
2022.1 English

MARK_DEBUG

Use MARK_DEBUG to specify that a net should be preserved during synthesis for hardware debug. This will prevent optimization that could otherwise eliminate or change the name of the specified signal. The MARK_DEBUG property preserves the signal to provide an easy means of observing the values on this signal during hardware debug.

MARK_DEBUG prevents optimizations, much like the DONT_TOUCH, KEEP, or KEEP_HIERARCHY properties. MARK_DEBUG can also affect optimization of hierarchical modules connected to signals that are marked for debug. While this can assist analysis and debugging, reduced optimization can result in a larger, slower design. For this reason, Xilinx recommends that you use MARK_DEBUG sparingly, particularly on timing critical areas of the design, and to attach to synchronous points in the design only to limit the increased area and power, and the impact on timing closure.

 

IMPORTANT:   In some cases MARK_DEBUG can have unintended consequences on the optimization of signals that are not marked for debug, but that are connected to hierarchical modules that also connect to signals marked for debug.

Often, you identify nets for debugging through the pins of hierarchies or cells; however, the MARK_DEBUG property must be assigned to nets. Therefore, it is recommended that you assign MARK_DEBUG using both the get_nets and the get_pins commands:

set_property MARK_DEBUG true [get_nets –of [get_pins hier1/hier2/<flop_name>/Q]]

This ensures that the MARK_DEBUG property is assigned to the net connected to the specified pin regardless of how the net is named or renamed.

Architecture Support

All architectures.

Applicable Objects

Nets (get_nets)

°Any net accessible to the internal array.

Note:   Some nets can have dedicated connectivity or other aspects that prohibit visibility for debug purposes.

Values

TRUE: Preserve the signal for use during debug.

FALSE: Do not preserve the signal (default).

Syntax

Verilog Syntax

To set this attribute, place the proper Verilog attribute syntax before the top-level output port declaration:

(* MARK_DEBUG = "{TRUE|FALSE}" *)

Verilog Syntax Example

// Marks an internal wire for debug in Vivado hardware manager

(* MARK_DEBUG = "TRUE" *) wire debug_wire,

VHDL Syntax

Declare the VHDL attribute as follows:

attribute MARK_DEBUG : string;

Specify the VHDL attribute as follows:

attribute MARK_DEBUG of signal_name : signal is “{TRUE|FALSE}”;

Where

signal_name is an internal signal.

VHDL Syntax Example

signal debug_wire : std_logic;

attribute MARK_DEBUG : string;

-- Marks an internal wire for debug in Vivado hardware manager

attribute MARK_DEBUG of debug_wire : signal is “TRUE”;

XDC Syntax

set_property MARK_DEBUG value [get_nets <net_name>]

Where: <net_name> is a signal name.

XDC Syntax Example

# Marks an internal wire for debug

set_property MARK_DEBUG TRUE [get_nets debug_wire]

Affected Steps

Synthesis

Opt Design

Place Design

Vivado hardware manager

See Also

DONT_TOUCH, page 209

KEEP, page 277

KEEP_HIERARCHY, page 282