Modeling & Compiling SCCharts with KIELER

This tutorial should guide you if you like to model SCCharts with KIELER and use the circuit based software synthesis path as explained in our [1] PLDI'14 submission. We will show you how to

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In addition to the step-by-step tutorial guide below we also captured a video that shows each of the explained steps (of Section 3.1.):

Download location: http://rtsys.informatik.uni-kiel.de/~kieler/files/pldi14/sccharts.swf

1. Download & Start KIELER

Download a suitable KIELER version for your operation system. The zip bundles are fully compiled and ready-to-run, they do not need any further installation process. Just save and extract them to/at the location of your choice and start the KIELER executable.

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Now you can proceed in modeling an SCChart as explained below.

2. Model an SCChart

Right-click on a project and create a (text) File:

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You will now see how to generate a C tick function.

3. Compile an SCChart

There are currently three different ways to compile an SCChart. In the following we will explain all three. The oldest way is to apply transformations on SCCharts textual SCT files via the context menu. Unless you use an older version of KIELER where the other alternatives are not present you are NOT advised to use the context menu as there are more convenient compilation ways. A more integrated compilation is the one described in Section 3.2 where the KIELER Compiler Selection View is used. The most simple way to try the SCCharts compiler is to use the online compiler as explained in Section 3.3 which also explains how to use the compiler from a make file using the command line.

3.1 Alternative 1: Context Menu Transformations (deprecated)

You can do several transformations on SCCharts (*.sct files). Just right click the file you want to transform in the project explorer and select the Transform SCChart sub menu. As abo is already a Core SCCart you do not need the core transformations. Click the All Normalize Transformations, this will do the Split Trigger and Effects and the Surface and Depth transformations together (in this order).

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Selecting Generate SC will produce a C file:

3.2 Alternative 2: KIELER Compiler Selection

You can also use our new KielerCompiler Selection View (Windows->Show View->Other->KIELER Simulation->KIELER Compiler Selection):

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In the KIELER Compiler Selection View you are then able to select the transformations that you would like to be applied to the currently opened model (textual SCT editor). The selected transformations are marked blue. There might be light blue marked transformations that are marked automatically because they are required by the current selected transformation to run BEFORE. You can disable this feature (which is not recommended in most cases but may be suitable for debugging single transformations).

3.3 Alternative 3: Online Compiler / Command Line Compiler

Instead of using the compiler inside the KIELER tool itself you can also use the command line version or use our new SCCharts online compiler.

4. More Examples

Under the following link, you find the examples used for evaluation. Be advised that there currently is no tool integrated evaluation possible. Please refer to the SCCharts superpage for the project status and known limitations. Find the list of Examples used for evaluation here.