Add a new BoringUtils.drive API for boring to drive a sink. (#3960)

This API allows users to bore to a sink they plan to drive, which complements the existing API to bore from a source to read.

core/src/main/scala/chisel3/RawModule.scala

@@ -211,10 +211,11 @@ abstract class RawModule extends BaseModule {
       case (true, false) if left.probeInfo.get.writable => ProbeDefine(si, left.lref, RWProbeExpr(Node(right)))
       case (true, false)                                => ProbeDefine(si, left.lref, ProbeExpr(Node(right)))
       case (false, true)                                => Connect(si, left.lref, ProbeRead(Node(right)))
-      case (false, false) =>
+      case (false, false)                               =>
+        // For non-probe, directly create Nodes for lhs, skipping visibility check to support BoringUtils.drive.
         (left, right) match {
-          case (_: Property[_], _: Property[_]) => PropAssign(si, left.lref, Node(right))
-          case (_, _) => Connect(si, left.lref, Node(right))
+          case (_: Property[_], _: Property[_]) => PropAssign(si, Node(left), Node(right))
+          case (_, _) => Connect(si, Node(left), Node(right))
         }
     }
     val secretCommands = if (_closed) {

src/main/scala/chisel3/util/experimental/BoringUtils.scala

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ package chisel3.util.experimental
 
 import chisel3._
 import chisel3.probe.{Probe, RWProbe}
+import chisel3.reflect.DataMirror
 import chisel3.Data.ProbeInfo
 import chisel3.experimental.{annotate, requireIsHardware, skipPrefix, BaseModule, ChiselAnnotation, SourceInfo}
 import chisel3.internal.{Builder, BuilderContextCache, NamedComponent, Namespace, PortBinding}
@@ -217,8 +218,13 @@ object BoringUtils {
     genName
   }
 
-  private def boreOrTap[A <: Data](source: A, createProbe: Option[ProbeInfo] = None)(implicit si: SourceInfo): A = {
-    import reflect.DataMirror
+  private def boreOrTap[A <: Data](
+    source:      A,
+    createProbe: Option[ProbeInfo] = None,
+    isDrive:     Boolean = false
+  )(
+    implicit si: SourceInfo
+  ): A = {
     def parent(d: Data): BaseModule = d.topBinding.location.get
     def purePortTypeBase = if (createProbe.nonEmpty) Output(chiselTypeOf(source))
     else if (DataMirror.hasOuterFlip(source)) Flipped(chiselTypeOf(source))
@@ -263,7 +269,11 @@ object BoringUtils {
             // if drilling down, don't drill Probe types
             val bore = if (up) module.createSecretIO(purePortType) else module.createSecretIO(Flipped(purePortTypeBase))
             module.addSecretIO(bore)
-            conLoc.asInstanceOf[RawModule].secretConnection(bore, rhs)
+            if (isDrive) {
+              conLoc.asInstanceOf[RawModule].secretConnection(rhs, bore)
+            } else {
+              conLoc.asInstanceOf[RawModule].secretConnection(bore, rhs)
+            }
             bore
           }
       }
@@ -290,8 +300,8 @@ object BoringUtils {
       Builder.error(s"Cannot bore from $source to ${thisModule.name}, as they do not share a least common ancestor")
     }
     val (upPath, downPath) = lcaResult.get
-    val lcaSource = drill(source, upPath.dropRight(1), upPath.dropRight(1), true)
-    val sink = drill(lcaSource, downPath.reverse.tail, downPath.reverse, false)
+    val lcaSource = drill(source, upPath.dropRight(1), upPath.dropRight(1), up = !isDrive)
+    val sink = drill(lcaSource, downPath.reverse.tail, downPath.reverse, up = isDrive)
 
     if (
       createProbe.nonEmpty || DataMirror.hasProbeTypeModifier(purePortTypeBase) ||
@@ -301,7 +311,11 @@ object BoringUtils {
     } else {
       // Creating a wire to assign the result to.  We will return this.
       val bore = Wire(purePortTypeBase)
-      thisModule.asInstanceOf[RawModule].secretConnection(bore, sink)
+      if (isDrive) {
+        thisModule.asInstanceOf[RawModule].secretConnection(sink, bore)
+      } else {
+        thisModule.asInstanceOf[RawModule].secretConnection(bore, sink)
+      }
       bore
     }
   }
@@ -314,6 +328,17 @@ object BoringUtils {
     boreOrTap(source, createProbe = None)
   }
 
+  /** Access a sink [[Data]] for driving that may or may not be in the current module.
+    *
+    * If the sink is in a child module, than create input ports to allow driving the requested sink.
+    *
+    * Note that the sink may not be a probe, and [[rwTap]] should be used instead.
+    */
+  def drive[A <: Data](sink: A)(implicit si: SourceInfo): A = {
+    require(!DataMirror.hasProbeTypeModifier(sink), "cannot drive a probe from BoringUtils.drive")
+    boreOrTap(sink, createProbe = None, isDrive = true)
+  }
+
   /** Access a source [[Data]] that may or may not be in the current module.  If
     * this is in a child module, then create read-only probe ports to allow
     * access to the requested source.

src/test/scala/chiselTests/BoringUtilsSpec.scala

@@ -376,4 +376,65 @@ class BoringUtilsSpec extends ChiselFlatSpec with ChiselRunners with Utils with
       "propassign a, bar.a_bore"
     )()
   }
+
+  behavior.of("BoringUtils.drive")
+
+  it should "fail on probes" in {
+    class Foo extends RawModule {
+      val a = Wire(Bool())
+      val p = ProbeValue(a)
+    }
+
+    class Bar extends RawModule {
+      val foo = Module(new Foo)
+
+      BoringUtils.drive(foo.p) := 1.B
+    }
+
+    val e = the[Exception] thrownBy circt.stage.ChiselStage.emitCHIRRTL(new Bar)
+
+    e.getMessage should include("requirement failed: cannot drive a probe from BoringUtils.drive")
+  }
+
+  it should "bore ports for driving hardware" in {
+    class Foo extends RawModule {
+      val a = Wire(Bool())
+    }
+
+    class Bar extends RawModule {
+      val foo = Module(new Foo)
+
+      BoringUtils.drive(foo.a) := 1.B
+    }
+
+    val chirrtl = circt.stage.ChiselStage.emitCHIRRTL(new Bar)
+
+    matchesAndOmits(chirrtl)(
+      "input bore",
+      "connect a, bore",
+      "wire bore",
+      "connect bore, UInt<1>(0h1)",
+      "connect foo.bore, bore"
+    )()
+  }
+
+  it should "bore ports for driving properties" in {
+    class Foo extends RawModule {
+      val a = Wire(Property[Int]())
+    }
+
+    class Bar extends RawModule {
+      val foo = Module(new Foo)
+
+      BoringUtils.drive(foo.a) := Property(1)
+    }
+
+    val chirrtl = circt.stage.ChiselStage.emitCHIRRTL(new Bar)
+
+    matchesAndOmits(chirrtl)(
+      "input bore",
+      "propassign a, bore",
+      "propassign foo.bore, Integer(1)"
+    )()
+  }
 }