I want to try writing some VHDL code and simulating it. I don't want to connect it to any hardware at the moment, I just want to simulate it on computer to start with.

I found a plugin for Eclipse called Sigasi where you can write VHDL code. It seems to work well. So for example I added this mux:

--MUX2_1
--2001-07-27 Lars-H Hemert

library IEEE;
use IEEE.std_logic_1164.all;

entity MUX2_1 is
  port(d_in0, d_in1, adress: in std_logic;
  d_ut: out std_logic);
end entity MUX2_1;

architecture beteende of MUX2_1 is
begin
  d_ut <= (not adress and d_in0) or (adress and d_in1);
end architecture beteende;

Now how do I simulate it? I want now to add some values for inputs and see what the output becomes when simulating it. How do I do that?

 

Did you search the internet for "VHDL simulator"?

 

Did you search the internet for "VHDL simulator"?

Yes, did you miss that I wrote this?

I found a plugin for Eclipse called Sigasi where you can write VHDL code.

So in this program, I can write the code and it "simulates" it (checks if it's correct syntax etc). The question is rather, how do I check that the code actually works the way I intend? I mean how can I test the code?

 

Oh, yeah I guess I did miss that. I've only used the Xilinx ISE suite. If I recall, checking the syntax and simulating for functionality are (in ISE) separate actions. I don't know about what you have, but surely there's some documentation on it.

 

Yes, did you miss that I wrote this?
I found a plugin for Eclipse called Sigasi where you can write VHDL code.

You missed the basic fact that code editor does not equal simulator. You need to get either some IDE like Xilinx ISE or from Altera, or you need to download some standalone simulator like Modelsim (but that one is a really clumsy piece of software..)

So I suggest you get either one of those IDEs and start using it as a simulator. Later you can use it to program the chips as well.

 

Here is a list of HDL simulators, most are usable.

Note: this list includes strictly Verilog simulators as well.

You will probably have to write a testbench (good thing to do, regardless of whether your simulator can generate one for you, or not) to exercise your model.

Yes, did you miss that I wrote this?

I don't see it....

 

I use a free version of Modelsim. It has an easy user interface, and you can find tutorials online.