The Module Reference feature of the Vivado® IP integrator lets you quickly add a module or entity definition from a Verilog or VHDL source file directly into your block design. While this feature does have limitations, it provides a means of quickly adding RTL modules without having to go through the process of packaging the RTL as an IP to be added through the Vivado IP catalog.
Both flows have their benefits and costs:
- The Package IP flow is rigorous and time consuming, but it offers a well-defined IP that can managed through the IP catalog, used in multiple designs, and upgraded as new revisions become available.
- The Module Reference flow is quick, but does not offer the benefits of working through the IP catalog.
The following sections explain the usage of the module reference technology. Differences between the two flows are also pointed in various sections of this chapter.