A method of routing a design on a programmable logic device (PLD) includes
generating a database that identifies the correspondence between routing
resources of the PLD and programming frames of the PLD. A first set of
programming frames required to implement the logic of the design is
identified, and the cost associated with using the first set of
programming frames is eliminated. A second set of programming frames that
are not used to implement the logic of the design is also identified, and
the cost associated with using the second set of programming frames is
maximized. Interconnect networks of the design are then routed, taking
into account the costing of the programming frames. When a programming
frame from the second set is used, the cost associated with using this
programming frame is eliminated. This method minimizes used programming
frames and maximizes unused programming frames, thus reducing PLD
configuration time.