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
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 DNI Tcl Console RTL Analyzer Intel® Quartus® Prime Timing Analyzer 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

2.3.2.1.3. Inspecting SDC-on-RTL Constraints

You can access SDC-on-RTL constraints in multiple ways in the order of the earliest opportunity in the flow, as described in the following sections:
Note: In all of the methods discussed in this section, the SDC-on-RTL constraints are read-only. You cannot modify the constraints in the compilation flow. You can only change the constraints by changing the source RTL SDC file and reloading it during Analysis and Elaboration.

DNI Tcl Console

The DNI Tcl console allows you to experiment conveniently with targeting constraints and the related syntax. For this beta release, the DNI netlist is read-only when accessed from the Tcl console, and constraint commands are not saved into the design database.

Access the DNI Tcl Console through the command-line interface using the following command: 
quartus_syn --dni -s

Once the Analysis & Elaboration compilation stage completes, you can load the project in the console (project_open <project_name>) and load the appropriate DNI netlist checkpoint using the dni::load_design -checkpoint "constrained" command. You can now perform tasks such as:

  • Read a specific SDC file using the dni::read_sdc<file_name> command.
  • Dump constraints using the dni::write_sdc command.
  • Run constraint commands that are limited to the local session. For more information, refer to Creating Constraints in SDC-on-RTL SDC Files.

RTL Analyzer

After Analysis and Elaboration, you can invoke the RTL Analyzer (Constrained mode) from the compilation dashboard. The RTL Analyzer GUI allows you to view the constraints on the elaborated design netlist. When you select a netlist object in the semantic viewer, you can view constraints targeting that object in the Property viewer. This helps ensure the constraints target the intended nodes in your RTL.

In the following image, you can observe that the iopll_refclk[1] port has three constraints:

Figure 42. Viewing Constraints in the RTL Analyzer
Note:
  • To view the connectivity details, right-click on a port and click Display individual bits.
  • You can cross-probe the SDC file by right-clicking on a constraint in the Property viewer and selecting the View in Source option.

Additionally, from the RTL Analyzer menu, you can also launch the Constraints dialog box (Tools > Object Constraints) to view a list of all constraints. Additionally, you can select an assignment or a constraint from the Constraints viewer and cross-probe to its source file by right-clicking and selecting View in Source. The source file that contains the assignment or constraint launches in the Intel® Quartus® Prime GUI with the line of the assignment highlighted.

Figure 43. Object Constraints
Note: The Test SDC button allows you to evaluate an SDC file in the current DNI session, but it does not write back to or modify the netlist in any manner. It is suitable only for testing the syntax in the SDC file. Refrain from using this option to add a new constraint.

Intel® Quartus® Prime Timing Analyzer

The Intel® Quartus® Prime Timing Analyzer uses industry-standard constraint and analysis methodology to report on all data required times, data arrival times, and clock arrival times for all register-to-register, I/O, and asynchronous reset paths in your design. The Timing Analyzer verifies that the required timing relationships are met for your design to function correctly and confirms actual signal arrival times against the constraints you specify. For more information about the Timing Analyzer, refer to the Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Timing Analyzer .

Using the Timing Analyzer GUI or Tcl command console, you can load SDC-on-RTL constraints into the timing analysis session by running the read_sdc command. By default, the read_sdc command always loads SDC-on-RTL constraints, which happens before loading other conventional Intel® Quartus® Prime software SDC files (SDC_FILE or SYN_SDC_FILE). To disable the loading of SDC-on-RTL constraints during the calls to read_sdc, use the read_sdc -no_import option or set the QSF variable ENABLE_IMPORT_SDC_DURING_READ_SDC to OFF.

During static timing analysis, you can load only the SDC-on-RTL SDC constraints using the import_sdc command. This is helpful when debugging issues you suspect are caused by SDC-on-RTL constraints.

Once you import the constraints using the read_sdc or import_sdc command, they become standard constraints in the Timing Analyzer. Standard constraint diagnostic reports (report_exceptions, report_sdc, and so on) operate on these constraints, and you can update the constraints for the current Timing Analyzer session using the existing Intel® Quartus® Prime timing analysis API commands.

Note: You can cross-probe the constraints in the report_sdc by right-clicking on the Location column of a constraint and selecting Locate in Constraint File.
Figure 44. SDC Report in the Timing Analyzer
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