BSC is the open source compiler toolchain for Bluespec SystemVerilog, a high-level, rule-based hardware design language. It translates Bluespec descriptions into synthesizable Verilog, letting developers bring typed, modular abstractions into mainstream FPGA/ASIC flows. The compiler performs scheduling of atomic rules, elaborates parameterized modules, and enforces interface contracts, producing predictable RTL that integrates with existing EDA tools. A companion simulator enables fast functional execution and debugging before handing designs to traditional verification and synthesis stages. The ecosystem includes standard libraries, FIFOs, interfaces, and utilities that encourage reuse and clean separation of datapaths and control. By raising the abstraction for hardware architecture while preserving efficient output, BSC helps teams explore complex designs—such as RISC-V cores or accelerators—more productively.
Features
- Actively maintained open source project under permissive license, with contributions and releases via GitHub
- Supports two syntactic flavors: BSV (SystemVerilog-like) and BH (Haskell-like) interchangeable at package granularity
- Enables high-level hardware description with strong static type checking to catch errors before synthesis
- Supports Guarded Atomic Actions, allowing the compiler to derive a scheduler for modular hardware components
- Provides simulation and compiler toolchain alongside the compiler for design validation
- Offers comprehensive documentation including user guide, language reference guides, and standard libraries