Decision modules

A method of transforming a representation of an integrated circuit (IC) design, the method comprising:

• receiving a first representation of the IC design comprising a plurality of segments, wherein a particular segment comprises (i) a plurality of alternative implementations, each alternative implementation for performing functionality of the particular segment, and (ii) a decision module for making a selection of an alternative implementation from among the plurality of alternative implementations;
• and
• performing, at a computer, a plurality of transformations on the first representation to produce a second representation of the IC design, said performing comprising:
• for the particular segment, examining at least two of the alternative implementations during the plurality of transformations to determine which of the alternative implementations should be selected for the second representation, wherein said transformations comprise non-Boolean transformations.

A method of defining a physical design for an integrated circuit (IC) design, the method comprising:

• inserting a decision module that retains a plurality of alternative implementations for a segment of the IC design into the IC design at a particular stage of a multi-stage design process;
• during at least one subsequent stage of the multi-stage design process, examining at least two different alternative implementations retained by the decision module while performing a plurality of transformations to the IC design that identify design constraints that are employed at the subsequent stage;
• and
• defining, at a computer, a physical design for the IC design by utilizing an implementation retained by the decision module that satisfies the identified design constraints.