Comparison between SystemC and SystemVerilog

As for the two languages, SystemC and SystemVerilog, SystemC is an extension of C++ in terms of hardware support, while SystemVerilog inherits Verilog and extends Verilog in terms of object-oriented and verification capabilities. Both languages ​​support concepts such as signals, events, interfaces, and object-oriented, but each language has its own clear application focus:

(1) SystemC is particularly suitable for modeling architectures, developing transaction-level (TL) models, and describing software behavior in verification. SystemC is particularly suitable for teams with strong C++ capabilities and requirements for C/C++-based IP integration (such as processor simulators), as well as for virtual prototyping designed for early software development.

(2) SystemVerilog is the best language for RTL design, not only because of its ability to describe real hardware and assertions, but also because of tool support. At the same time, SystemVerilog also provides modeling abstract models and advanced verification platform language features, such as restricted random stimulus generation, functional coverage or assertions. It is more suitable for projects that do not require C/C++ IP integration, after all, the entire design can be completed in one language.

Of course, SystemC can be used to verify the bench and describe RTL structures, and SystemVerilog can be used to write high-level transaction-level models. However, each language is most effective when used for its own focused application. This is especially true for complex projects where different tasks belong to different groups, often with different skill requirements. A pragmatic solution and one that meets the multiple technical requirements of the design team is to use both SystemC and SystemVerilog to develop and verify the transaction-level models of the virtual prototypes that today's design flows require.