Abstract: A design tool includes a first module, a second module, a third module and a fourth module. The first module may be configured to select a platform for implementing an integrated circuit design in response to input from a user. The second module may be configured to select a macro block to be placed on the platform in response to input from the user. A description of the macro block may be configured to indicate whether the macro block has connectivity placement data. The third module may be configured to determine whether the macro block has the connectivity placement data based on the description of the macro block. The fourth module may be configured to automatically place the macro block on the platform based on the connectivity placement data, when the description of the macro block indicates the connectivity placement data is present.

Abstract: A command processor of an integrated circuit design suite has a graphical user interface and a command interpreter for interpreting user commands. The graphical user interface is specified entirely by a user at run time. One or more design tools corresponding to processes within an integrated circuit design process operate under the control of the command processor and within the graphical user interface.