ESL even I can understand!

Another consideration is that it is often difficult for designers to imagine what should be changed in the C/C++ source to effect a particular desired timing, area or latency improvement in the hardware. Furthermore, small and apparently similar changes to the C/C++ source can result in radically different hardware implementations.

One innovative solution comes from the guys and gals at Bluespec, who have created an environment based on a language they call Bluespec SystemVerilog (BSV), which is like Standard SystemVerilog on steroids. In a cool new How To article, we are introduced to Bluespec's approach to working at a high-level that keeps designers in control such that they can make tightly managed architecture and micro-architecture changes safely and quickly.