Small project management (digital systems): At the outset of a small HDL/digital design project, one of the first practical steps is to determine ________ so that each subsystem can be verified independently.

Introduction / Context:
Structuring an HDL or digital electronics project into well-defined blocks (modules) enables parallel development and simpler debugging. However, this approach only works if there is a clear plan for testing each block in isolation, with known stimuli and expected responses. Early attention to test strategy avoids integration surprises later and speeds up iteration.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The project is divided into blocks (e.g., counters, decoders, controllers).
• Verification resources are available (testbenches, logic analyzers, or on-board LEDs/7-segment displays).
• Independent tests are preferable before full integration.

Concept / Approach:
Design for test from day one. For each block, define inputs, outputs, and acceptance criteria. Create a testbench that drives corner cases (reset behavior, overflow, invalid codes). On hardware, provide hooks such as debug pins or a display register to visualize internal states. This mindset reduces coupling and simplifies finding defects, because you can prove each module correct before building the larger system.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Measure success by coverage: all states exercised, edge conditions tested, and timing constraints checked. If integration reveals a fault, a robust per-block test plan speeds regression to the failing unit test.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Counting controlled devices: Capacity planning is useful but not the first verification-centric step.
• Checking if blocks fit together: Integration comes after individual validation.
• “How each block works”: This is design documentation, not a concrete early test action.
• Tool purchase: Important administratively, but not a design verification step.

Common Pitfalls:
Deferring testbench creation until after coding; relying only on full-system tests; omitting corner cases (e.g., rollover at 11:59:59 in a clock).

Final Answer:
A way to test each block