A method for performing simulation, the method comprising: configuring a programmable hardware element with a solver; creating a first model by graphically selecting and interconnecting a first set of components on a display device to create a first diagram; automatically generating first information based on the first diagram; storing the first information on the programmable hardware element representing the first model, wherein the first information specifies a first set of equations representing the first model; the solver in the programmable hardware element executing the first model based on the first information and at least one first input signal; displaying a graphical user interface on a display device, wherein the graphical user interface is usable to modify the first model; receiving user input via the graphical user interface modifying the first diagram to modify the first model; automatically generating second information based on the modified first diagram; storing the second information on the programmable hardware element representing a second model, wherein the second information specifies a second set of equations representing the second model, wherein the second model is deployed to the programmable hardware element while the solver in the programmable hardware element is executing on the first model, wherein deploying the second model to the programmable hardware element comprises replacing the first model in the memory of the programmable hardware element with the second model; the solver in the programmable hardware element executing the second model based on the second information and one or more of the at least one first input signal or a second input signal, wherein said storing second information on the programmable hardware element representing the second model and the solver in the programmable hardware element executing the second model are performed in less than a millisecond such that it is substantially continuous relative to the solver in the programmable hardware element executing the first model. configuring a programmable hardware element with a solver; creating a first model by graphically selecting and interconnecting a first set of components on a display device to create a first diagram; automatically generating first information based on the first diagram; storing the first information on the programmable hardware element representing the first model, wherein the first information specifies a first set of equations representing the first model; the solver in the programmable hardware element executing the first model based on the first information and at least one first input signal; displaying a graphical user interface on a display device, wherein the graphical user interface is usable to modify the first model; receiving user input via the graphical user interface modifying the first diagram to modify the first model; automatically generating second information based on the modified first diagram; storing the second information on the programmable hardware element representing a second model, wherein the second information specifies a second set of equations representing the second model, wherein the second model is deployed to the programmable hardware element while the solver in the programmable hardware element is executing on the first model, wherein deploying the second model to the programmable hardware element comprises replacing the first model in the memory of the programmable hardware element with the second model; the solver in the programmable hardware element executing the second model based on the second information and one or more of the at least one first input signal or a second input signal, wherein said storing second information on the programmable hardware element representing the second model and the solver in the programmable hardware element executing the second model are performed in less than a millisecond such that it is substantially continuous relative to the solver in the programmable hardware element executing the first model.