VHDL Programming

358 Chapter Fifteen

The first step in the synthesis process is to read all the files of the

design into the synthesis tool. This can be accomplished either by using

the synthesis tool GUI (Graphical User Interface) or by issuing command

language commands. First time or casual users will probably use the GUI

because no command language syntax knowledge is required, and all

operations can be accomplished through menu clicks. Everyday users of

the tool quickly learn the command language of the synthesis tool, create

scripts that build up the design, and run those scripts to create the

design. This provides a repeatable method of creating the design.

The Leonardo Spectrum GUI is shown in Figure 15-1.

Leonardo Spectrum contains a Quick Setup guide that allows the

designer to easily specify the source files for the design, the target tech-

nology, the target device and speed grade, the clock frequency, and the out-

put file. Once this information has been specified, the flow can be run to cre-

ate the netlist for the target device. This example will use the Advanced

GUI because the hierarchy will be preserved to get a better idea of the

size of each design block.

The first step is to select the Technologytab. In this section the tar-

get technology will be set: the device package and the speed grade of the

target technology. In this example we chose Altera Apex 20KE technology

Figure 15-1
Leonardo Spectrum
User Interface.