Simulation Flows

Simulation Flow	Description
NativeLink flow	The NativeLink automated flow supports a variety of design flows. NativeLink is not recommended if you require direct control over every aspect of simulation. Use NativeLink to generate simulation scripts to compile your design and simulation libraries, and to automatically launch your simulator from the Quartus^® Prime Standard Edition software.
Custom flows	Custom flows support manual control of all aspects of simulation, including the following: Manually compile and simulate testbench, design, IP, and simulation model libraries, or write scripts to automate compilation and simulation in your simulator. Use the Simulation Library Compiler to compile simulation libraries for all Altera devices and supported third-party simulators and languages. Use the custom flow if you require any of the following: Custom compilation commands for design, IP, or simulation library model files (for example, macros, debugging or optimization options, or other simulator-specific options). Multi-pass simulation flows. Flows that use dynamically generated simulation scripts.
Specialized flows	Altera supports specialized flows for various design variations, including the following: For simulation of Altera example designs, refer to the documentation for the example design or to the IP core user guide on the Altera website. For simulation of Qsys designs, refer to Creating a System with Qsys chapter of the Quartus^® Prime Standard Edition Handbook. For simulation of designs that include the Nios II embedded processor, refer to`AN 351: Simulating NiosII Embedded Processors Designs`.

Simulation Flow

Description

NativeLink flow

The NativeLink automated flow supports a variety of design flows. NativeLink is not recommended if you require direct control over every aspect of simulation. Use NativeLink to generate simulation scripts to compile your design and simulation libraries, and to automatically launch your simulator from the Quartus^® Prime Standard Edition software.

Custom flows

Custom flows support manual control of all aspects of simulation, including the following:

Manually compile and simulate testbench, design, IP, and simulation model libraries, or write scripts to automate compilation and simulation in your simulator.
Use the Simulation Library Compiler to compile simulation libraries for all Altera devices and supported third-party simulators and languages.

Use the custom flow if you require any of the following:

Custom compilation commands for design, IP, or simulation library model files (for example, macros, debugging or optimization options, or other simulator-specific options).
Multi-pass simulation flows.
Flows that use dynamically generated simulation scripts.

Specialized flows

Altera supports specialized flows for various design variations, including the following:

For simulation of Altera example designs, refer to the documentation for the example design or to the IP core user guide on the Altera website.
For simulation of Qsys designs, refer to Creating a System with Qsys chapter of the Quartus^® Prime Standard Edition Handbook.
For simulation of designs that include the Nios II embedded processor, refer toAN 351: Simulating NiosII Embedded Processors Designs.