---
name: a5c-ai-cdc-analysis
description: "Specialized skill for clock domain crossing analysis and synchronizer design in FPGA designs"
license: "MIT"
metadata:
  decimalai-skill-id: "126db244-be55-4e18-89d9-eda4e37921f7"
  decimalai-version-id: "ff47d329-e140-4d02-9783-2ba6a5e8b008"
  decimalai-version: "1"
  decimalai-body-sha256: "defc28368db45d1166743a4e6c0cb002f331257ed70e275b02c3328e2a0a05f4"
  decimalai-name: "a5c-ai/cdc-analysis"
  decimalai-format: "1"
  decimalai-invocation: "model"
  decimalai-category: "coding"
  decimalai-source: "https://app.decimal.ai/s/a5c-ai-cdc-analysis@1/SKILL.md"
---
# CDC Analysis Skill

## Overview

Expert skill for Clock Domain Crossing (CDC) analysis and synchronizer design, ensuring metastability-safe multi-clock FPGA designs.

## Capabilities

- Identify all clock domain crossings in RTL
- Design 2FF and 3FF synchronizers with ASYNC_REG
- Implement Gray code counters for async FIFOs
- Design handshake protocols (req-ack, valid-ready)
- Calculate MTBF for synchronizers
- Generate CDC constraints (set_false_path, set_max_delay)
- Detect CDC violations (reconvergence, data stability)
- Support Xilinx CDC-aware design flows

## Target Processes

- cdc-design.js
- reset-strategy.js
- clock-network-design.js
- timing-constraints.js

## Usage Guidelines

### Synchronizer Types
- **2FF Synchronizer**: Standard single-bit synchronization (MTBF > 100 years typical)
- **3FF Synchronizer**: High-reliability applications
- **Pulse Synchronizer**: Edge detection across domains
- **Handshake Synchronizer**: Multi-bit data with control signals

### FIFO Design
- Use Gray code for pointer crossing
- Ensure proper empty/full flag generation
- Consider almost-empty/almost-full for flow control
- Apply correct FIFO depth calculation

### Constraint Guidelines
- `set_false_path` for 2FF synchronizer paths
- `set_max_delay` for data bus with valid synchronization
- `set_clock_groups` for asynchronous clocks
- Apply ASYNC_REG attribute to synchronizer flip-flops

### CDC Violations to Detect
- Combinational logic between synchronizer stages
- Fan-out from unsynchronized signals
- Reconvergence of synchronized signals
- Data stability violations

## Dependencies

- CDC analysis tool integration
- Vendor-specific CDC rule knowledge
- Metastability theory understanding