Interview prompt

20-minute whiteboard: env with APB master agent, IRQ monitor, reg model, scoreboard.

WHITEBOARD CHAIN

1. DECLARE    interfaces / types / ports you need
2. SKELETON   class extends + utils macro + key methods
3. MECHANISM  fill one critical method while narrating
4. PITFALL    name one bug juniors make on this pattern
5. TEST       how you would smoke-test the component

Reference sketch (≤40 lines)

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// boxes (draw first)
// env
//   apb_agent (active)
//   irq_agent (passive)
//   reg_model + adapter
//   scoreboard
//   virtual_sequencer
// arrows in connect_phase:
//   apb.mon.ap -> sb.act
//   irq.mon.ap -> sb.irq
//   predictor -> sb.exp

Draw boxes and TLM arrows before any class keywords. Label each arrow with port type (analysis_port → analysis_export).

Mechanism to narrate

• Active agent: driver + sequencer + monitor

• Passive agent: monitor only — still has analysis_port

• Reg model lives in env; adapter on bus agent

Smoke test (5 minutes)

• Narrate connect_phase without writing code.

• Name virtual sequencer handles for each sub-sequencer.

Key takeaways

• Name every connect_phase arrow on the diagram.