A method of processing a general-purpose, high level language program to determine a hardware representation of the program can include compiling the general-purpose, high level language program to generate a language independent model (105, 110, and 115). The language independent model can be scheduled such that each component is activated when both control and valid data arrive at the component (120). An interface structure specifying a hardware interface through which devices external to the language independent model interact with a physical implementation of the language independent model can be defined and included in the language independent model (200, 300, 400).