System and method for decoupling and iterating resources associated with a module

A method of designing an integrated circuit comprising:

• a. initializing a user module wherein the user module includes a hardware resource;
• b. identifying a first possible placement location on an array of programmable hardware of the integrated circuit for the hardware resource;
• c. receiving a request for a next placement for the hardware resource;
• and
• d. identifying a second possible placement location on the array for the hardware resource in response to receiving the request.

A system for designing an integrated circuit comprising:

• a. a decoupling module configured to separate a plurality of resources which correspond to a user module into a fixed resource and an unfixed resource;
• b. a resource placement locator connected to the decoupling module and configured to find a next possible placement location on an array of programmable hardware resources of the integrated circuit for the unfixed resource;
• and
• c. a color coordinator connected to the resource placement locator configured to uniquely highlight the unfixed resource and the fixed resource.

In a computer system, a method of designing an integrated circuit comprising:

• a) displaying a plurality of images each representing a programmable resource, said plurality of images comprising a first set and a second set and representing an array of programmable hardware resources of the integrated circuit;
• b) displaying a first placement of a user module, said first placement comprising a first resource of said first set visually distinguished and a second resource of said second set visually distinguished;
• and
• c) responsive to a user request, displaying a second placement of said user module, said second placement comprising said first resource of said first set visually distinguished and a third resource of said second set visually distinguished, wherein said second and third resources are different.

A computer system comprising a processor coupled to a bus and a memory coupled to said bus and containing instructions for implementing a method of designing an integrated circuit comprising:

• a) displaying a plurality of images each representing a programmable resource, said plurality of images comprising a first set and a second set and representing an array of programmable hardware resources of the integrated circuit;
• b) determining and displaying a first placement of a user module, said first placement comprising a first resource of said first set visually distinguished and a second resource of said second set visually distinguished;
• and
• c) responsive to a user request, determining and displaying a second placement of said user module, said second placement comprising said first resource of said first set visually distinguished and a third resource of said second set visually distinguished, wherein said second and third resources are different.