Intel® Quartus® Prime Pro Edition User Guide: Getting Started

ID 683463
Date 12/04/2023
Public

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3.1.1. Creating a Design Specification and Test Plan

Before you create your design logic or complete your system design, it is best practice to create detailed design specifications that define the system, specify the I/O interfaces for the FPGA, identify the different clock domains, and include a block diagram of basic design functions.

In addition, creating a test plan helps you to design for verification and ease of manufacture. For example, your test plan can include validation of interfaces incorporated in your design. To perform any built-in self-test functions to drive interfaces, you can use a UART interface with a Nios® II processor inside the FPGA device.

If more than one designer contributes to the design, consider a common design directory structure or source control system to make design integration easier. Consider whether you want to standardize on an interface protocol for each design block.