Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!bu.edu!inmet!davidb
From: davidb@inmet.inmet.com
Newsgroups: comp.lang.vhdl
Subject: Re: Question on version of VHDL.
Message-ID: <381900012@inmet>
Date: 20 Mar 91 14:43:00 GMT
References: <22297@teda.UUCP>
Lines: 29
Nf-ID: #R:teda.UUCP:22297:inmet:381900012:000:1308
Nf-From: inmet.inmet.com!davidb    Mar 20 09:43:00 1991


/* Written  4:35 pm  Mar 18, 1991 by th@teda.UUCP in inmet:comp.lang.vhdl */

>I would appreciate your help in answering this question: I'm in charge
>of developing a software to interface from our shematic capture
>database to put out a VHDL design description.  People here at my
>workplace would ask me occasionally: "Is there a specific version of
>VHDL that we support?"

>To my knowledge, there's no VHDL version at all.  I always refer to
>the IEEE std 1076-1987 LRM as the point of reference.  Am i correct in
>saying no version?  If not, could you then tell me what is the latest
>version of VHDL that the industry normally would refer to?

You are correct, technically.  This does not keep people from mixing
implementations and the language.

Usually, I have found that people talking about a "version" of VHDL
are referring to a specific implementation, or a version of an
implementation.  This is especially important (to them) if they have a
subset implementation; then, if your tool uses parts of the language
that their tool does not implement, they are in trouble.

I have found the best answer is simply to ask what they mean, or what
they consider to be a version.  They may think you are somewhat dumb,
but this is better than miscommunication.

						Dave Barton
						barton@i2wash.com