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"I use Modelsim and testbenches to get everything working nicely before I synthesize the design."
Okay, so I knew that suggestion was going to come up at some point. Hehe. I tend not to simulate that much anymore purely due to the fact that software-based simulation can just take wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too long to complete (or even get any useful data on large designs). Especially when you have to simulate with 'ps' timescale with a *serial* protocol. You could literally wait weeks to see any relevant data. This is why most of my debugging and verification is done using embedded ILAs.
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I also use the embedded logic analyzer. However, your initial complaint related to performing small HDL code changes and recompiling. If you test individual components in a testbench (one which gets good coverage of the design), then construct more complex designs based on those components, and either simulate (if they don't take too long) or test with the logic analyzer, then you will reduce the need to re-synthesize the design. At that point, I'm not sure there is any advantage in incremental compilation. Those one line changes should be in your software at that point :)
Anyways, it sounds like you've got a good understanding of what you can and can't do with the free versions.
Cheers,
Dave
Honored Contributor
