What are clocking blocks?

In reply to dave_59:

In reply to Michael54:
Clocking blocks are certainly optional. There are more useful in poorly written RTL that do not properly use non-blocking assignments in sequential logic, or in gate-level simulations with inaccurate delays.
My DVCon paper “The missing link: the testbench to DUT connection” has a brief mention of them.

Hello Dave,
Thanks for your answer as always!

I am trying to understand the code provided in the paper of the probe_pkg, and have a few questions:

  1. May I use it to retrieve/monitor values of internal RTL signals?
  2. Are the signals monitored by this mechanism considered as asynchronous ones (did not see any clocking events/blocks involved)?
  3. May I use this “probe” mechanism to monitor Black-Box output single asynchronous signals/buses from my RTL DUT (for example: interrupt/trap signals?)

Thanks in advance!
Michael