An "architecture generation engine" is operative with a CAD system to implement circuits into PLD (programmable logic device) architectures and to evaluate performances of different architectures. The architecture generation engine converts a high level, easily specified description of a PLD architecture into a highly detailed, complete PLD architecture database that can be used by a CAD toolset to map a circuit netlist into a PLD. The architecture generation engine also enables performance evaluation of a wide variety of PLD architectures for given benchmark circuits.