CDC Protocol Verification: Review Checklist

Review checklist

Review Checklist for CDC Protocol Verification focuses on assertion pass rate, liveness coverage, CDC protocol bug escape rate. The goal is to convert issue observations into mechanism-backed closure decisions.

• Crossing and reset intent are explicitly classified.

• Protocol assumptions are documented and checked.

• Critical issues have owners and dates.

• Waivers include mechanism, containment, and expiry.

• Regression matrix includes stress and milestone modes.

• Owners signed: verification lead, formal owner, CDC lead.

Signoff ownership

OWNERSHIP MAP — CDC Protocol Verification

artifact                  owner
----------------------    -------------------------
design intent           verification lead
verification evidence   formal owner
signoff decision        CDC lead

Every open CDC/RDC issue needs one accountable owner before waiver or fix.

CDC/RDC deep dive

Protocol correctness is the bridge between structural clean and functional safe.

Concept diagram

PROTOCOL FLOW

intent -> transport protocol -> synchronization -> destination acceptance

Metric graph

PROTOCOL ISSUE BURNDOWN

open issues: 20 -> 11 -> 5 -> 0

Reports and artifacts

• FIFO pointer proofs

• req/ack liveness

• pulse miss checks

• protocol assertions

Mini case study

Async FIFO empty/full logic looked correct until gray decode mismatch appeared during reset overlap.

Debug branches

• Pointer sync audit

• formal liveness checks

• reset interaction review

Senior review question

Ask: what evidence proves this risk is closed for silicon, not just tool-clean?

Key takeaways

• State crossing class, assumptions, and owner with every issue.

• Run structural and dynamic regressions after each fix.

Common pitfalls

• Treating all warnings as equivalent risk.

• Waiving issues without containment evidence.

• Skipping reset and reconvergence stress after CDC fixes.

Principal CDC/RDC review addendum

CDC closure requires proving protocol safety and liveness, not only structural synchronizer presence.

Metric: assertion pass rate, liveness coverage, CDC protocol bug escape rate