A method for creating an FPGA netlist generated from an FPGA source code and at least one shadow register. The FPGA source code defines at least one function and at least one signal. The shadow register is assigned to the at least one signal, and is arranged and provided to store the value of the assigned signal at runtime. An option for reading out the stored signal value at runtime is provided. The function defined in the FPGA source code is not changed by the shadow register. The function described by the FPGA source code is executed by the FPGA, and a functional decoupling of the shadow register from the function described in the FPGA source code is provided. Via the decoupling, the shadow register maintains the signal value stored at the time of the decoupling while the function described in the FPGA source code is being executed.