Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Design Compilation

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ID 683236
Date 9/30/2024
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Document Table of Contents
Document Table of Contents x
Answers to Top FAQs 1. Design Compilation 2. Reducing Compilation Time 3. Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide Design Compilation Archives A. Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guides
1. Design Compilation x
1.1. Compilation Overview 1.2. Design Analysis & Elaboration 1.3. Design Synthesis 1.4. Design Place and Route 1.5. Incremental Optimization Flow 1.6. Fast Forward Compilation Flow 1.7. Full Compilation Flow 1.8. HSSI Dual Simplex IP Generation Flow 1.9. Exporting Compilation Results 1.10. Clearing Compilation Results 1.11. Integrating Other EDA Tools 1.12. Compiler Optimization Techniques 1.13. Compilation Monitoring Mode 1.14. Viewing Quartus Database File Information 1.15. Understanding the Design Netlist Infrastructure 1.16. Using Synopsys* Design Constraint (SDC) on RTL Files 1.17. Using the Node Finder 1.18. Synthesis Language Support 1.19. Synthesis Settings Reference 1.20. Fitter Settings Reference 1.21. Design Compilation Revision History
1.1. Compilation Overview x
1.1.1. Compilation Flows 1.1.2. Compilation Hierarchy 1.1.3. Using the Compilation Dashboard
1.2. Design Analysis & Elaboration x
1.2.1. Locating Design Elements 1.2.2. Using the RTL Analyzer
1.2.1. Locating Design Elements x
1.2.1.1. Copying Hierarchy Path Names
1.2.2. Using the RTL Analyzer x
1.2.2.1. Sweep Hints Viewer 1.2.2.2. Object Set Console 1.2.2.3. Module Interfaces 1.2.2.4. Bundled Instances 1.2.2.5. Auto-hide Unconnected Pins 1.2.2.6. Filtering Ports and Nets 1.2.2.7. Expand Connections
1.3. Design Synthesis x
1.3.1. Preparing for Design Synthesis 1.3.2. Running Synthesis 1.3.3. Post-Synthesis Static Timing Analysis (STA) 1.3.4. Viewing Synthesis Reports
1.3.2. Running Synthesis x
1.3.2.1. Preserving Registers During Synthesis 1.3.2.2. Preserving Signals for Monitoring and Debugging
1.3.4. Viewing Synthesis Reports x
1.3.4.1. Viewing IP Core License Data 1.3.4.2. Viewing Synthesis Dynamic Report
1.4. Design Place and Route x
1.4.1. Running the Fitter 1.4.2. Viewing Fitter Reports
1.4.1. Running the Fitter x
1.4.1.1. Fitter Commands 1.4.1.2. Disabling or Enabling Physical Synthesis Optimization
1.4.2. Viewing Fitter Reports x
1.4.2.1. Plan Stage Reports 1.4.2.2. Place Stage Reports 1.4.2.3. Route Stage Reports 1.4.2.4. Retime Stage Reports 1.4.2.5. Finalize Stage Reports
1.4.2.2. Place Stage Reports x
1.4.2.2.1. Global Signal Visualization Report
1.4.2.3. Route Stage Reports x
1.4.2.3.1. Global Router Congestion Hotspot Summary Report 1.4.2.3.2. Global Router Wire Utilization Map Report
1.5. Incremental Optimization Flow x
1.5.1. Concurrent Analysis During Synthesis or Fitting 1.5.2. Analyzing Compiler Snapshots 1.5.3. Validating Periphery (I/O) after the Plan Stage
1.5.2. Analyzing Compiler Snapshots x
1.5.2.1. Running Snapshot Viewer
1.5.2.1. Running Snapshot Viewer x
1.5.2.1.1. Analyzing Failing Paths with Snapshot Viewer 1.5.2.1.2. Analyzing Clocking with Snapshot Viewer 1.5.2.1.3. Analyzing High Fan-out Nets with Snapshot Viewer 1.5.2.1.4. Validating Timing Constraints with Snapshot Viewer 1.5.2.1.5. Analyzing Congestion with Snapshot Viewer
1.6. Fast Forward Compilation Flow x
1.6.1. Step 1: Run Register Retiming 1.6.2. Step 2: Review Retiming Results 1.6.3. Step 3: Run Fast Forward Compile 1.6.4. Step 4: Review Fast Forward Results 1.6.5. Step 5: Implement Fast Forward Recommendations 1.6.6. Retiming Restrictions and Workarounds
1.6.2. Step 2: Review Retiming Results x
1.6.2.1. Locate Critical Chains
1.6.3. Step 3: Run Fast Forward Compile x
1.6.3.1. Fast Forward Compile By Hierarchy 1.6.3.2. HyperFlex Settings
1.6.4. Step 4: Review Fast Forward Results x
1.6.4.1. Clock Fmax Summary Report 1.6.4.2. Fast Forward Details Report
1.7. Full Compilation Flow x
1.7.1. Full Compilation Flow with Temporary Optimization Mode
1.9. Exporting Compilation Results x
1.9.1. Exporting a Version-Compatible Compilation Database 1.9.2. Importing a Version-Compatible Compilation Database 1.9.3. Creating a Design Partition 1.9.4. Exporting a Design Partition 1.9.5. Reusing a Design Partition
1.11. Integrating Other EDA Tools x
1.11.1. Generating a VQM Netlist for other EDA Tools
1.12. Compiler Optimization Techniques x
1.12.1. Compiler Optimization Modes 1.12.2. Allow Register Retiming 1.12.3. Automatic Gated Clock Conversion 1.12.4. Enable Intermediate Fitter Snapshots 1.12.5. Fast Preserve Option 1.12.6. Fractal Synthesis Optimization
1.12.6. Fractal Synthesis Optimization x
1.12.6.1. Enabling or Disabling Fractal Synthesis
1.14. Viewing Quartus Database File Information x
1.14.1. QDB File Attribute Types
1.15. Understanding the Design Netlist Infrastructure x
1.15.1. DNI Netlist Five-Box Data Model
1.15.1. DNI Netlist Five-Box Data Model x
1.15.1.1. Use Case Examples
1.15.1.1. Use Case Examples x
1.15.1.1.1. Scripting Routine Tasks Using Tcl Commands 1.15.1.1.2. Traversing the Design Netlist Using Tcl Commands
1.16. Using Synopsys* Design Constraint (SDC) on RTL Files x
1.16.1. Registering the SDC-on-RTL SDC File 1.16.2. Applying the SDC-on-RTL Constraints 1.16.3. Inspecting SDC-on-RTL Constraints 1.16.4. Creating Constraints in SDC-on-RTL SDC Files 1.16.5. Using Entity-Based SDC-on-RTL Constraints 1.16.6. Types of SDC Files Used in the Quartus® Prime Software
1.16.4. Creating Constraints in SDC-on-RTL SDC Files x
1.16.4.1. Example: Using SDC-on-RTL Features
1.16.4.1. Example: Using SDC-on-RTL Features x
1.16.4.1.1. SDC-on RTL Example: Targeting Pins of Top-level Instances 1.16.4.1.2. SDC-on RTL Example: Targeting Pins in Cells 1.16.4.1.3. SDC-on RTL Example: Targeting Pins Using Wildcards 1.16.4.1.4. SDC-on RTL Example: Applying Constraints at Deeper Hierarchies
1.16.5. Using Entity-Based SDC-on-RTL Constraints x
1.16.5.1. Entity-based SDC-on-RTL Constraints Example
1.17. Using the Node Finder x
1.17.1. Node Finder Settings Reference
1.18. Synthesis Language Support x
1.18.1. Verilog and SystemVerilog Synthesis Support 1.18.2. VHDL Synthesis Support
1.18.1. Verilog and SystemVerilog Synthesis Support x
1.18.1.1. Verilog HDL Input Settings (Settings Dialog Box) 1.18.1.2. Design Libraries 1.18.1.3. Verilog HDL Configuration 1.18.1.4. Initial Constructs and Memory System Tasks 1.18.1.5. Verilog HDL Macros
1.18.1.3. Verilog HDL Configuration x
1.18.1.3.1. Hierarchical Design Configurations
1.18.2. VHDL Synthesis Support x
1.18.2.1. VHDL Input Settings (Settings Dialog Box) 1.18.2.2. VHDL Standard Libraries and Packages 1.18.2.3. VHDL wait Constructs 1.18.2.4. VHDL-2019 Conditional Analysis Tool Directives
1.19. Synthesis Settings Reference x
1.19.1. Advanced Synthesis Settings
2. Reducing Compilation Time x
2.1. Factors Affecting Compilation Results 2.2. Strategies to Reduce the Overall Compilation Time 2.3. Reducing Synthesis Time 2.4. Reducing Placement Time 2.5. Reducing Routing Time 2.6. Reducing Static Timing Analysis Time 2.7. Setting Process Priority 2.8. Reducing Compilation Time Revision History
2.2. Strategies to Reduce the Overall Compilation Time x
2.2.1. Compilation on a Compute Farm 2.2.2. Enabling Multi-Processor Compilation 2.2.3. Running the ECO Compilation Flow 2.2.4. Using Block-Based Compilation
2.2.2. Enabling Multi-Processor Compilation x
2.2.2.1. Processor Base Clock Frequency 2.2.2.2. Random Access Memory (RAM) 2.2.2.3. Storage
2.3. Reducing Synthesis Time x
2.3.1. Using Precompiled Component Generation 2.3.2. Settings to Reduce Synthesis Time and Synthesis Netlist Optimization Time 2.3.3. Use Appropriate Coding Style to Reduce Synthesis Time
2.3.1. Using Precompiled Component Generation x
2.3.1.1. Enabling Precompiled Components Generation 2.3.1.2. Precompiled Component Generation Flow
2.4. Reducing Placement Time x
2.4.1. Placement Effort Multiplier Settings
2.5. Reducing Routing Time x
2.5.1. Identifying Routing Congestion 2.5.2. Changing Fitter Aggressive Routability Optimization Settings
2.5.1. Identifying Routing Congestion x
2.5.1.1. Identifying Congestion with the Global Router Congestion Hotspot Summary Report and the Global Router Wire Utilization Map 2.5.1.2. Identifying Routing Congestion with the Chip Planner
Answers to Top FAQs
1. Design Compilation
2. Reducing Compilation Time
3. Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide Design Compilation Archives
A. Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guides

1.1. Compilation Overview

The Compiler is modular, allowing you to run only the stage of compilation that you need. Each Compiler stage performs a specific function in the full compilation process. When you run any stage, the Compiler automatically runs any prerequisite stages and generates detailed reports for each stage. The Compiler can preserve a "snapshot" of the compilation results after each stage.
Table 1.  Compilation Stages Available for All Devices
Compiler Stage Description
IP Generation Identifies the status and version of IP components in the project, reports outdated IP that require upgrade, and generates Intel FPGA IPs in the project.
Analysis & Synthesis
  • Analysis & Elaboration—a stage of Analysis & Synthesis that checks for design file and projects errors. It provides different checkpoints or previews (elaborated, instrumented, constrained, and swept) of your design early in the compilation flow and serves as a platform to better analyze your design and improve it. If enabled, Precompiled Component Generation partially synthesizes IP components in your design, and stores the compilation results in a project subdirectory called IP cache during this stage, as Using Precompiled Component Generation describes.
  • Synthesis—Synthesizes, optimizes, minimizes, and maps design logic to device resources. The "synthesized" snapshot preserves the results of this stage.
Early Timing Analysis Combines Synopsys* Design Constraint (SDC) on RTL and post-synthesis static timing analysis. The SDC-on-RTL allows you to integrate SDC constraints that target nodes using the same names as in your RTL design early in the compilation flow and uses them in the later stages of the Quartus® Prime compilation. However, you can run the module even without RTL SDCs where you can view the synthesized timing netlist.
Fitter (Place & Route)

Assigns the placement and routing of the design to specific device resources, while honoring timing and placement constraints. The Fitter includes the following stages:

  • Plan—places all periphery elements (such as I/Os and PLLs) and determines a legal clock plan, without core placement or routing. The "planned" snapshot preserves the stage results.
  • Place—places all core elements in a legal location. The "placed" snapshot preserves the stage results.
  • Route—creates all routing between the elements in the design. The "routed" snapshot preserves the stage results.
  • Fitter (Finalize)—for Arria® 10 and Cyclone® 10 GX devices, converts unnecessary tiles to High-Speed or Low-Power. For Stratix® 10 and Agilex™ family devices, performs post-Route fix-up. The "final" snapshot preserves the stage results.
Timing Analysis Analyzes and validates the timing performance of all design logic with the Timing Analyzer.
Power Analysis Optional module that estimates device power consumption. Specify the electrical standard on each I/O cell and the board trace model on each I/O standard in your design.
Assembler Converts the Fitter's placement and routing assignments into a programming image for the FPGA device.
EDA Netlist Writer Generates output files for use in other EDA tools, as Integrating Other EDA Tools describes.
Table 2.  Device-Specific Compilation Stages
Compiler Stage Description Available For
HSSI Dual Simplex IP Generation A sub-stage of IP Generation that generates the dual simplex IP in your design. You can run this stage after using the Dual Simplex (DS) Assignment Editor to place supported simplex transceiver-based IPs in the same transceiver channel. Refer to HSSI Dual Simplex IP Generation Flow and the GTS Transceiver PHY User Guide. Agilex™ 5 designs with dual simplex IP only.
Support-Logic Generation Compiler stage preceding Analysis & Synthesis that includes the following sub-stages:
  • Design Analysis—elaborates the design RTL to extract design information about component IP targeting F-tile. You must run this stage before running Tile Interface Planner.
  • Logic Generation—uses your Tile Interface Plan to generate logic for synthesis and implementation of your tile configuration plan. You must run Logic Generation after Design Analysis before you can synthesize your tile plan. Refer to Using Tile Interface Planner, Design Constraints User Guide.
Agilex™ 7 F-Tile designs only
Retime A sub-stage of Fitter that moves (retimes) existing registers into Hyper-Registers for fine-grained performance improvement. The "retimed" snapshot preserves the stage results. Stratix® 10 and Agilex™ family devices only.
Fast Forward Timing Closure Recommendations Generates detailed reports that estimate performance gains achievable by making specific RTL modifications. Refer to Intel Hyperflex Architecture High-Performance Design Handbook Stratix® 10 and Agilex™ family devices only.

Each successive release of the Quartus® Prime software typically includes:

  • Added support for new features in supported FPGA devices.
  • Added support for new devices.
  • Efficiency and performance improvements.
  • Improvements to compilation time and resource use of the design software.

Due to these improvements, different versions of the Quartus® Prime Pro Edition, Quartus® Prime Standard Edition, and Quartus® Prime Lite Edition software can produce different programming files from release to release.


Section Content
Compilation Flows
Compilation Hierarchy
Using the Compilation Dashboard

Related Information
Level Two Title