After planning your device I/O, planning how to lay out your PCB, and deciding on your use model, you can begin creating your design. Design creation includes:
- Planning the hierarchy of your design
- Identifying the IP cores to use and customize in your design
- Instantiating RTL modules for special interconnect or functionality not available in the IP catalog
- Creating timing, power, and physical constraints
- Specifying additional constraints, attributes, and other elements used during synthesis and implementation
When creating your design, consider the following main points:
- Achieving the required functionality
- Operating at the required frequency
- Operating with the required degree of reliability
- Fitting within the silicon resource and power budget
Decisions made at this stage affect the end product. A wrong decision at this point can result in problems at a later stage, causing issues throughout the entire design cycle. Spending time early in the process to carefully plan your design helps ensure that you meet your design goals. This approach also minimizes debug time in the lab.