A Golden Source As The Single Source Of Truth In HSI

By Tim Schneider

November 27, 2025

The hardware/software interface (HSI) is where system-on-chip (SoC) software defines the connections between the software and the underlying hardware. Maintaining a precise, synchronized HSI across all artifacts is challenging, and unmanaged deviations can propagate through the flow and affect integration schedules.

Most complex SoCs rely on IP reuse, each with its own naming conventions, hand-edited spreadsheets, wikis, and scripts that can fragment and drift quickly. This could create a disconnect between the software’s view of the device and what the silicon implements. Teams must also manage bug fixes and evolving standards. To mitigate risk, Arteris technology automates generation from a golden source input, keeping the HSI consistent across RTL, drivers, verification, documentation, and firmware.

From source to system

Arteris products provide a solution by capturing the HSI in a machine-readable format and updating all dependent artifacts on every build. Using Magillem Connectivity and Magillem Registers, teams package IP, compose system maps, elaborate registers, and produce synchronized outputs, including netlists, UVM RAL, C headers, and HTML documentation, all from the same description. Generators and checkers operate together to catch connectivity errors and conflicts early in the process.

By generating all outputs from a single source and automatically validating them, Arteris builds consistency into the process. IP is packaged with interface metadata, parameters, clocks/resets, and legal settings. Hierarchical address maps contain other address maps. Leaf maps contain registers and memories. Because Magillem supports IP-XACT and SystemRDL/CSRSpec, the same description can instantiate components, elaborate the address space, and emit synchronized views for all stakeholders.

To read the full article on Semiconductor Engineering, click here.