In “An FPGA design flow for video imaging applications” Suhel Dhanani of Altera examines some of the challenges when implementing video applications in FPGAs and proposes a model simulation based alternative to the use of Hardware Description Languages (HDLs) to get the highest performance implementation of DSP algorithms.

He describes how model-based design methodologies like those provided by Mathworks with their Simulink tool can be used for both simulation and design implementation, making use of the graphical environment and a customizable set of block libraries that allows design specification, simulation, and implementation in a selected platform.