A method for generating a timing path software monitor for identifying a critical timing path in hardware devices coupled between first and second components is provided. The method includes generating a static timing report associated with the hardware devices. The static timing report has names of the hardware devices and wire names associated with wires coupled to the hardware devices. The method further includes automatically generating the timing path software monitor based on the static timing report that monitors binary values associated with the wire names at a first clock cycle and a transition of binary values associated with the wire names during a second clock cycle after the first clock cycle. The timing path software monitor indicates a critical timing path is identified when the transition of one of the binary values received by the second component occurs during the second clock cycle.