A pre-designed system-on-chip architecture and method includes several standard library devices, HDL source code, simulation environment and regression, synthesis scripts, software header files, software libraries, ASIC verification test suites, and makefiles. The standard library devices comprise an integrated CPU, a shared memory controller, a peripheral controller, system peripherals, a DMA controller, embedded memory, and general system control. CPU bridges are used to accommodate a variety of processor types and to insulate users from the complexities of interfacing to different kinds of processors. Such CPU bridges further allow the latest processors to be rapidly integrated into existing integration platforms and designs.