Testing a graphical program intended for a programmable hardware element
View Patent ↗Testing a first graphical program intended for implementation on a programmable hardware element. The first graphical program may be stored. The first graphical program may include a first plurality of nodes connected by lines which visually specify first functionality. The first graphical program may be intended for implementation by the programmable hardware element. A second graphical program may be stored which visually specifies testing functionality for the first graphical program. The second graphical program may be executable by a host computer to simulate input to the programmable hardware element when configured by the first graphical program. The first graphical program and the second graphical program may be executed (e.g., by a host computer) to test the first functionality when implemented by the programmable hardware element. During execution, simulated outputs may be monitored.
1. A method for testing a first graphical program intended for implementation on a programmable hardware element comprising:
storing the first graphical program in a memory, wherein the first graphical program comprises a first plurality of nodes connected by lines, wherein the first plurality of nodes connected by lines visually specify first functionality, wherein the first graphical program is intended for deployment on the programmable hardware element;
storing a second graphical program in the memory, wherein the second graphical program comprises a second plurality of nodes connected by lines, wherein the second plurality of nodes connected by lines visually specify testing functionality for the first graphical program, wherein the second graphical program is executable by a processor of a host computer to simulate input to the first graphical program as though it were deployed on the programmable hardware element; and
executing, on the processor of the host computer, the first graphical program and the second graphical program to test the first functionality as though deployed on the programmable hardware element.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
creating a hardware configuration program based on the first graphical program; and
programming the programmable hardware element using the hardware configuration program.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
operating the programmable hardware element, wherein the programmable hardware element implements the first functionality.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring output of the first graphical program during said executing.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said monitoring comprises logging output data from the output of the first graphical program.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said monitoring comprises analyzing the output from the first graphical program.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
displaying one or more alerts on a display based on said analyzing.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
storing a third graphical program for testing the first functionality of the first graphical program;
wherein said executing comprises executing the third graphical program with the first and second graphical programs.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
automatically generating the second graphical program based on the first graphical program.
10. A non-transitory computer accessible memory medium storing program instructions for testing a first graphical program intended for implementation on a programmable hardware element, wherein the program instructions are executable to:
store the first graphical program, wherein the first graphical program comprises a first plurality of nodes connected by lines, wherein the first plurality of nodes connected by lines visually specify first functionality, wherein the first graphical program is intended for implementation on the programmable hardware element;
store a second graphical program, wherein the second graphical program comprises a second plurality of nodes connected by lines, wherein the second plurality of nodes connected by lines visually specify testing functionality for the first graphical program, wherein the second graphical program is executable by a host computer to simulate input to the first graphical program as though it were implemented on the programmable hardware element; and
execute, on the host computer, the first graphical program and the second graphical program to test the first functionality as though implemented on the programmable hardware element.
11. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
create a hardware configuration program based on the first graphical program; and
program the programmable hardware element using the hardware configuration program.
12. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 11 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
initiate operation of the programmable hardware element, wherein the programmable hardware element implements the first functionality.
13. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
monitor output of the first graphical program during said executing.
14. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 13 , wherein said monitoring comprises logging output data from the output of the first graphical program.
15. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 13 , wherein said monitoring comprises analyzing the output from the first graphical program.
16. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 15 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
display one or more alerts on a display based on said analyzing.
17. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to store a third graphical program for testing the first functionality of the first graphical program and execute the third graphical program with the first and second graphical programs.
18. The non-transitory computer accessible memory medium of claim 10 , wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
automatically generate the second graphical program based on the first graphical program.
19. A system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory medium coupled to the processor, wherein the memory medium stores program instructions for testing a first graphical program intended for implementation on a programmable hardware element, wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to:
store the first graphical program, wherein the first graphical program comprises a first plurality of nodes connected by lines, wherein the first plurality of nodes connected by lines visually specify first functionality, wherein the first graphical program is intended for implementation on the programmable hardware element;
store a second graphical program, wherein the second graphical program comprises a second plurality of nodes connected by lines, wherein the second plurality of nodes connected by lines visually specify testing functionality for the first graphical program, wherein the second graphical program is executable by a host computer to simulate input to the first graphical program as though it were implemented on the programmable hardware element; and
execute, on the host computer, the first graphical program and the second graphical program to test the first functionality as though implemented on the programmable hardware element.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the system further comprises the programmable hardware element, and wherein the program instructions are further executable to:
create a hardware configuration program based on the first graphical program; and
program the programmable hardware element using the hardware configuration program.