Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Design Compilation

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Date 6/26/2023
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Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
1. Answers to Top FAQs 2. Design Compilation 3. Reducing Compilation Time 4. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide Design Compilation Archives A. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guides
2. Design Compilation x
2.1. Compilation Overview 2.2. Using the Compilation Dashboard 2.3. Design Netlist Infrastructure (Beta) 2.4. Design Synthesis 2.5. Design Place and Route 2.6. Incremental Optimization Flow 2.7. Fast Forward Compilation Flow 2.8. Full Compilation Flow 2.9. Exporting Compilation Results 2.10. Integrating Other EDA Tools 2.11. Synthesis Language Support 2.12. Compiler Optimization Techniques 2.13. Synthesis Settings Reference 2.14. Fitter Settings Reference 2.15. Design Compilation Revision History
2.1. Compilation Overview x
2.1.1. Compilation Flows 2.1.2. Compilation Hierarchy 2.1.3. Compilation Monitoring
2.3. Design Netlist Infrastructure (Beta) x
DNI Flow (Beta) DNI Netlist Five-box Data Model Executing Tcl Commands 2.3.1. Exploring the RTL Analyzer (Beta) 2.3.2. Early Timing Analysis After Design Synthesis (Beta) 2.3.3. DNI Use Case Examples
2.3.1. Exploring the RTL Analyzer (Beta) x
2.3.1.1. Sweep Hints Viewer 2.3.1.2. Connectivity Tracer 2.3.1.3. Object Set Console 2.3.1.4. Module Interfaces 2.3.1.5. Bundled Instances 2.3.1.6. Auto-hide Unconnected Pins 2.3.1.7. Filtering Ports and Nets 2.3.1.8. Expand Connections
2.3.2. Early Timing Analysis After Design Synthesis (Beta) x
2.3.2.1. Synopsys* Design Constraint (SDC) on RTL 2.3.2.2. Post-Synthesis Static Timing Analysis (STA) 2.3.2.3. Types of SDC Files Used in the Intel® Quartus® Prime Software
2.3.2.1. Synopsys* Design Constraint (SDC) on RTL x
2.3.2.1.1. Registering the SDC-on-RTL SDC File 2.3.2.1.2. Applying the SDC-on-RTL Constraints 2.3.2.1.3. Inspecting SDC-on-RTL Constraints 2.3.2.1.4. Creating Constraints in SDC-on-RTL SDC Files
2.3.3. DNI Use Case Examples x
2.3.3.1. Scripting Routine Tasks Using DNI Tcl Commands 2.3.3.2. Traversing the DNI Netlist Using Tcl Commands
2.4. Design Synthesis x
2.4.1. Running Synthesis 2.4.2. Viewing Synthesis Reports 2.4.3. Viewing Synthesis Dynamic Report
2.4.1. Running Synthesis x
2.4.1.1. Preserving Registers During Synthesis 2.4.1.2. Preserving Signals for Monitoring and Debugging
2.5. Design Place and Route x
2.5.1. Running the Fitter 2.5.2. Viewing Fitter Reports
2.5.1. Running the Fitter x
2.5.1.1. Fitter Commands 2.5.1.2. Disabling or Enabling Physical Synthesis Optimization
2.5.2. Viewing Fitter Reports x
2.5.2.1. Plan Stage Reports 2.5.2.2. Place Stage Reports 2.5.2.3. Route Stage Reports 2.5.2.4. Retime Stage Reports 2.5.2.5. Finalize Stage Reports
2.5.2.2. Place Stage Reports x
2.5.2.2.1. Global Signal Visualization Report
2.5.2.3. Route Stage Reports x
2.5.2.3.1. Global Router Congestion Hotspot Summary Report 2.5.2.3.2. Global Router Wire Utilization Map Report
2.6. Incremental Optimization Flow x
2.6.1. Concurrent Analysis During Synthesis or Fitting 2.6.2. Analyzing Compiler Snapshots 2.6.3. Validating Periphery (I/O) after the Plan Stage
2.6.2. Analyzing Compiler Snapshots x
2.6.2.1. Running Snapshot Viewer
2.6.2.1. Running Snapshot Viewer x
2.6.2.1.1. Analyzing Failing Paths with Snapshot Viewer 2.6.2.1.2. Analyzing Clocking with Snapshot Viewer 2.6.2.1.3. Analyzing High Fan-out Nets with Snapshot Viewer 2.6.2.1.4. Validating Timing Constraints with Snapshot Viewer 2.6.2.1.5. Analyzing Congestion with Snapshot Viewer
2.7. Fast Forward Compilation Flow x
2.7.1. Step 1: Run Register Retiming 2.7.2. Step 2: Review Retiming Results 2.7.3. Step 3: Run Fast Forward Compile 2.7.4. Step 4: Review Fast Forward Results 2.7.5. Step 5: Implement Fast Forward Recommendations 2.7.6. Retiming Restrictions and Workarounds
2.7.2. Step 2: Review Retiming Results x
2.7.2.1. Locate Critical Chains
2.7.3. Step 3: Run Fast Forward Compile x
2.7.3.1. Fast Forward Compile By Hierarchy 2.7.3.2. HyperFlex Settings
2.7.4. Step 4: Review Fast Forward Results x
2.7.4.1. Clock Fmax Summary Report 2.7.4.2. Fast Forward Details Report
2.8. Full Compilation Flow x
2.8.1. Full Compilation Flow with Temporary Optimization Mode
2.9. Exporting Compilation Results x
2.9.1. Exporting a Version-Compatible Compilation Database 2.9.2. Importing a Version-Compatible Compilation Database 2.9.3. Creating a Design Partition 2.9.4. Exporting a Design Partition 2.9.5. Reusing a Design Partition 2.9.6. Viewing Quartus Database File Information 2.9.7. Clearing Compilation Results
2.9.6. Viewing Quartus Database File Information x
2.9.6.1. QDB File Attribute Types
2.10. Integrating Other EDA Tools x
2.10.1. Generating a VQM Netlist for other EDA Tools
2.11. Synthesis Language Support x
2.11.1. Verilog and SystemVerilog Synthesis Support 2.11.2. VHDL Synthesis Support
2.11.1. Verilog and SystemVerilog Synthesis Support x
2.11.1.1. Verilog HDL Input Settings (Settings Dialog Box) 2.11.1.2. Design Libraries 2.11.1.3. Verilog HDL Configuration 2.11.1.4. Initial Constructs and Memory System Tasks 2.11.1.5. Verilog HDL Macros
2.11.1.3. Verilog HDL Configuration x
2.11.1.3.1. Hierarchical Design Configurations
2.11.2. VHDL Synthesis Support x
2.11.2.1. VHDL Input Settings (Settings Dialog Box) 2.11.2.2. VHDL Standard Libraries and Packages 2.11.2.3. VHDL wait Constructs 2.11.2.4. VHDL-2019 Conditional Analysis Tool Directives
2.12. Compiler Optimization Techniques x
2.12.1. Compiler Optimization Modes 2.12.2. Allow Register Retiming 2.12.3. Automatic Gated Clock Conversion 2.12.4. Enable Intermediate Fitter Snapshots 2.12.5. Fast Preserve Option 2.12.6. Fractal Synthesis Optimization
2.12.6. Fractal Synthesis Optimization x
2.12.6.1. Enabling or Disabling Fractal Synthesis
2.13. Synthesis Settings Reference x
2.13.1. Advanced Synthesis Settings
3. Reducing Compilation Time x
3.1. Factors Affecting Compilation Results 3.2. Strategies to Reduce the Overall Compilation Time 3.3. Reducing Synthesis Time and Synthesis Netlist Optimization Time 3.4. Reducing Placement Time 3.5. Reducing Routing Time 3.6. Reducing Static Timing Analysis Time 3.7. Setting Process Priority 3.8. Reducing Compilation Time Revision History
3.2. Strategies to Reduce the Overall Compilation Time x
3.2.1. Running the ECO Compilation Flow 3.2.2. Enabling Multi-Processor Compilation 3.2.3. Using Block-Based Compilation
3.2.2. Enabling Multi-Processor Compilation x
3.2.2.1. Processor Base Clock Frequency 3.2.2.2. Random Access Memory (RAM) 3.2.2.3. Storage
3.3. Reducing Synthesis Time and Synthesis Netlist Optimization Time x
3.3.1. Settings to Reduce Synthesis Time and Synthesis Netlist Optimization Time 3.3.2. Use Appropriate Coding Style to Reduce Synthesis Time
3.4. Reducing Placement Time x
3.4.1. Placement Effort Multiplier Settings
3.5. Reducing Routing Time x
3.5.1. Identifying Routing Congestion with the Chip Planner
3.5.1. Identifying Routing Congestion with the Chip Planner x
3.5.1.1. Areas with Routing Congestion 3.5.1.2. Congestion due to HDL Coding style
1. Answers to Top FAQs
2. Design Compilation
3. Reducing Compilation Time
4. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide Design Compilation Archives
A. Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guides

2.3. Design Netlist Infrastructure (Beta)

Design Netlist Infrastructure (DNI) is a major foundational evolution of the Intel® Quartus® Prime software. It enables new features that allow faster design convergence and a better user experience.

As a first step, applications and flow for Early Design Analysis have been enabled that unlock following significant benefits:

  • Comprehensive and interactive schematic visualization of unaltered view of your design (RTL).
  • Deeper and advanced design analysis with intuitive and rich Tcl scripting interface.
  • Faster design interactions with granular synthesis.
  • Simplified and user-friendly constraint authoring by allowing SDC-on-RTL targets.
  • Faster design iterations by SDC cleanup and early timing analysis with post-synthesis timing.

Additionally, in this release, DNI compilation flow is feature complete and supports the Assembler to generate and download bit stream to the hardware for testing purposes. As in the classic flow, DNI flow is now compatible with Signal Tap, various design flows (Partial Reconfiguration, black box incremental compile and import/export flows), and simulation model generation. However, in the subsequent Intel® Quartus® Prime software releases, DNI flow might continue to support more enhancements and capabilities.

DNI Flow (Beta)

The DNI flow (beta) provides a complete and unmodified view of your design early in the DNI-based compilation flow. It serves as a platform to better analyze your design and improve it. With this Beta feature, the monolithic Analysis & Synthesis stage splits into Analysis & Elaboration and Synthesis stages.

To invoke the DNI flow, you must run the Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition software with --dni option as follows: 

quartus --dni <project>

Once you enable the flow, the compilation dashboard gets updated. You can now access the preview modes of the Analysis & Elaboration stage, as shown in the following image:

Figure 3. Analysis & Elaboration and Synthesis Stages

The Analysis & Elaboration stage is composed of a series of transformations, and you can preview your design at each stage as shown in Analysis & Elaboration and Synthesis Stages, where:

  1. Elaborated: Provides an unmodified preview of your design captured directly from RTL.
  2. Instrumented: Provides an instrumented preview with system-level debugging (debug fabric and Signal Tap logic analyzer inserted in your design).
  3. Constrained: Provides a design preview with SDC constraints.
  4. Swept: Provides a design preview with unnecessary logic removed from your design.

The following diagram illustrates the detailed breakdown of the Analysis & Synthesis stage:

Figure 4. Analysis & Synthesis in the DNI Flow

For information about the Synthesis stage, refer to Design Synthesis.

CAUTION:
Incompatibility with the Classic Flow

A design compiled with the DNI compilation flow is not compatible with the classic flow. Ensure the following:

  • If you compile a design with the DNI compilation flow and launch the project in the Intel® Quartus® Prime software GUI without the DNI option, a message displays indicating that you compiled your design with a different compilation engine. If you continue to launch the project, you cannot compile the design. This also applies for designs compiled in the classic compilation flow.
  • For any partition-based design (for example, Partial Reconfiguration), mixing DNI and classic compilation flow among the user-defined partitions is not supported. You must compile all partitions with the same compilation flow (DNI or classic).
  • For version-compatible design export or import feature, design compiled with classic compilation flow and exported from an older Intel® Quartus® Prime version requires the Intel® Quartus® Prime classic environment. Similarly, the Intel® Quartus® Prime DNI environment is necessary for version-compatible databases compiled with the DNI flow, and this feature is not supported yet.

DNI Netlist Five-box Data Model

DNI introduces a conventional netlist five-box data model used in most Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools and commonly uses Tcl commands to traverse the netlist. Consider the following two instances example: 

module top (input PI_1,
            input PI_2,
            input PI_3,
            output PO_4);
 
    wire net_2;
    wire net_3;
 
    AND_OR inst_1(PI_1, PI_2, PI_3, net_2);
    AND_OR inst_2(PI_3, PI_2, PI_1, net_3);
    assign PO_4 = net_2 | net_3;
endmodule
 
module AND_OR (input in_1,
                input in_2,
                input in_3,
                output out_1);
 
    wire net_1;
 
    assign net_1 = in_1 & in_2;
    assign out_1 = net_1 | in_3;
 
endmodule

A DNI netlist consists of modules, instances, ports, instance ports, and nets, as shown in the following color-coded diagram:

Figure 5. DNI Netlist Five-box Data Model

The following table describes the core elements of this netlist data model:

Table 3.  Core Elements of the Netlist Data Model
Data Model Elements Description Tcl Command
Module A collection of connected netlist objects, such as instances, ports, nets, and instance ports. It is similar to the Verilog module or VHDL entity.
Each design has only a single top module containing a group of instances of other modules or library cells.
Note: A library cell instance is also referred to as a leaf instance.
–
Port An I/O interface of a module. A design can have input ports, output ports, or bidirectional ports.

In the DNI Data Model, PI_1, PI_2, PI_3, and PO_4 are ports.

dni::get_ports
Instance

An instantiation of a module or primitive. A module instance is also referred to as a hierarchical instance, submodule, or a child of the top-level module.

A module instance (submodule) may also contain a group of instances of other modules or library cells. These nested module-children instances are referred to as design hierarchies. You can build a hierarchy tree for the entire design with the root as the top module.

In the DNI Data Model, inst_1, inst_2, AND_1, OR_2, and OR_3 are instances.

Note: Multiple unique objects can reference an instance if it exists in a netlist instantiated more than once.
dni::get_cells
Instance port (inst_port) A terminal of an instance. The hierarchical I/O interfaces or leaf instances are referred to as instance ports. Their directions can be input or output.
Note: FPGA hardware does not support bidirectional signals. Hence, your design must not include any bidirectional instance ports.

In the DNI Data Model, inst_1|in_1, inst_2|AND_1|in_1 are few examples of instance ports.

dni::get_pins
Net A wire that connects terminals of instantiations or a netlist.

A local net or a hierarchical net is an object within a submodule or top module to hold the connection between instance ports of child instances, instance ports of the submodule boundary, or primary ports of the top module. Hierarchical nets in the submodule and outside the top module of a hierarchical instance port have the same corresponding global or flat net.

A global net or a flat net represents the connection of leaf instances or primary ports.

In the DNI Data Model, Net_1, Net_2, Net_3, Net_4 and so on are nets.

dni::get_nets

Executing Tcl Commands

The Intel® Quartus® Prime software GUI (quartus) and Synthesis tool (quartus_syn) support Tcl commands.

Use one of the following suitable methods to execute your Tcl commands:

Intel® Quartus® Prime Software GUI (quartus)

Perform the following steps in the GUI after you have enabled the DNI flow:

  1. On the Compilation Dashboard, run Analysis & Synthesis > Analysis & Elaboration task to generate the DNI netlist.

  2. Click the magnifier icon to Invoke the RTL Analyzer.
  3. Execute your DNI Tcl command in the Tcl Console .

Synthesis Tool (quartus_syn)
  1. Enable the DNI flow for your project with the following command:
    quartus_syn --dni --analysis_and_elaboration <project_name>
  2. Load your design.
    > quartus_syn --dni -s
<... Quartus Info Message...>
tcl> project_open top
tcl> dni::load_design -checkpoint elaborated
dms_path::sandboxes::sandbox_1239_0::design
  3. Execute your DNI Tcl commands:
    tcl> foreach_in_collection p [dni::get_pins -of_objects [dni::get_cells inst_1|out_1]] {puts [dni::get_property -name name -object $p]}
a[0]
a[1]
o
tcl> foreach_in_collection p [dni::get_pins -of_objects [dni::get_cells inst_1|out_1]] {puts [dni::get_property -name direction -object $p]}
input
input
output
tcl>

Section Content
Exploring the RTL Analyzer (Beta)
Early Timing Analysis After Design Synthesis (Beta)
DNI Use Case Examples

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