The semiconductor industry continually faces increasing complexity, driving the need for optimized, reliable integrated circuits (ICs). Today’s systems must perform diverse tasks and connect with many devices, making verification highly challenging. The Portable Stimulus Standard (PSS) from Accellera addresses this complexity by enabling testcases at various abstraction levels (e.g., SystemVerilog UVM, FPGA prototyping). Since its release in 2018, PSS adoption has grown, with many EDA tools supporting it.

For digital ASIC verification, PSS extends UVM with dynamic, random scenario generation—allowing more efficient and comprehensive testing. PSS tasks can be mapped to UVM sequences, while PSS tools generate scenario permutations based on model rules. With just three files—a PSS model, task list, and PSS test—engineers can automate broad, randomized coverage, optimizing bug detection and accelerating closure.

This tutorial introduces PSS, covers building robust PSS models, and details integrating PSS with UVM. Key topics include:

1. PSS fundamentals and background.
2. Building effective, reliable PSS models, from syntax to best practices.
3. Leveraging UVM & PSS together for fast, thorough ASIC verification.
4. Strategies for PSS-friendly testbench creation from day one.
5. Guidelines for retrofitting existing UVM environments with PSS.
6. Portable Stimulus Standard, emphazing the PORTABILITY across platforms and verification stages.
7. Real-world results: PSS’s impact on bug rates, coverage, and time to market.

By combining PSS with UVM, engineers can enhance productivity, improve bug coverage, and reduce verification time. PSS is increasingly vital in digital verification—and its ease of use and effectiveness make it a go-to tool for companies seeking better results, faster.