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

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ID 683236
Date 10/02/2023
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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 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. Compiler Optimization Techniques 2.12. Synthesis Language Support 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 x
2.3.1. DNI-Based Compilation Flow Executing Tcl Commands 2.3.2. DNI Netlist Five-Box Data Model 2.3.3. DNI-Based Node Finder 2.3.4. Exploring the RTL Analyzer 2.3.5. Early Timing Analysis After Design Synthesis 2.3.6. DNI Use Case Examples
2.3.4. Exploring the RTL Analyzer x
2.3.4.1. Sweep Hints Viewer 2.3.4.2. Object Set Console 2.3.4.3. Module Interfaces 2.3.4.4. Bundled Instances 2.3.4.5. Auto-hide Unconnected Pins 2.3.4.6. Filtering Ports and Nets 2.3.4.7. Expand Connections
2.3.5. Early Timing Analysis After Design Synthesis x
2.3.5.1. Synopsys* Design Constraint (SDC) on RTL 2.3.5.2. Post-Synthesis Static Timing Analysis (STA) 2.3.5.3. Types of SDC Files Used in the Intel® Quartus® Prime Software
2.3.5.1. Synopsys* Design Constraint (SDC) on RTL x
2.3.5.1.1. Registering the SDC-on-RTL SDC File 2.3.5.1.2. Applying the SDC-on-RTL Constraints 2.3.5.1.3. Inspecting SDC-on-RTL Constraints 2.3.5.1.4. Creating Constraints in SDC-on-RTL SDC Files 2.3.5.1.5. Using Entity-Based SDC-on-RTL Constraints
2.3.6. DNI Use Case Examples x
2.3.6.1. Scripting Routine Tasks Using DNI Tcl Commands 2.3.6.2. Traversing the DNI Netlist Using Tcl Commands 2.3.6.3. Using SDC-on-RTL Features
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. Compiler Optimization Techniques x
2.11.1. Compiler Optimization Modes 2.11.2. Allow Register Retiming 2.11.3. Automatic Gated Clock Conversion 2.11.4. Enable Intermediate Fitter Snapshots 2.11.5. Fast Preserve Option 2.11.6. Fractal Synthesis Optimization
2.11.6. Fractal Synthesis Optimization x
2.11.6.1. Enabling or Disabling Fractal Synthesis
2.12. Synthesis Language Support x
2.12.1. Verilog and SystemVerilog Synthesis Support 2.12.2. VHDL Synthesis Support
2.12.1. Verilog and SystemVerilog Synthesis Support x
2.12.1.1. Verilog HDL Input Settings (Settings Dialog Box) 2.12.1.2. Design Libraries 2.12.1.3. Verilog HDL Configuration 2.12.1.4. Initial Constructs and Memory System Tasks 2.12.1.5. Verilog HDL Macros
2.12.1.3. Verilog HDL Configuration x
2.12.1.3.1. Hierarchical Design Configurations
2.12.2. VHDL Synthesis Support x
2.12.2.1. VHDL Input Settings (Settings Dialog Box) 2.12.2.2. VHDL Standard Libraries and Packages 2.12.2.3. VHDL wait Constructs 2.12.2.4. VHDL-2019 Conditional Analysis Tool Directives
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

2.3.1. DNI-Based Compilation Flow

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

This flow allows you to access the preview modes of the Analysis & Elaboration stage, as shown in the following image:

Figure 3. Analysis & Elaboration Checkpoints

The Analysis & Elaboration stage is composed of a series of checkpoints, and you can preview your design at each checkpoint as shown in Analysis & Elaboration Checkpoints, 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 checkpoints:

Figure 4. Analysis & Synthesis Checkpoints

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

CAUTION:
Incompatibility with older software versions

A design compiled with the DNI-based compilation flow is not compatible with the Intel® Quartus® Prime software versions older than 23.3 due to the new DNI database. Ensure the following:

  • If you compile your design with the software version 23.3 and launch the project in the Intel® Quartus® Prime software GUI, 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 with the Intel® Quartus® Prime software versions older than 23.3.
  • For any partition-based design (for example, Partial Reconfiguration), mixing 23.3 version with 23.2 or older version compilation flow among the user-defined partitions is not supported. You must compile all partitions with the same compilation flow.
  • For version-compatible design export or import feature, a design compiled with and exported from an older Intel® Quartus® Prime version requires the Intel® Quartus® Prime 23.2 or older version. Similarly, the Intel® Quartus® Prime 23.3 version is necessary for version-compatible databases compiled with the DNI flow, and this feature is not supported yet.

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:

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

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

Synthesis Tool (quartus_syn)
  1. Enable the flow for your project with the following command:
    quartus_syn --analysis_and_elaboration <project_name>
  2. Load your design.
    > quartus_syn -s
<... Quartus Info Message...>
tcl> project_open top
tcl> dni::load_design -checkpoint elaborated
dms_path::sandboxes::sandbox_1239_0::design
  3. Execute your 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>
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