A method of automatically developing a data transfer network includes determining, using a processor, a plurality of data transfers of a function of a circuit design marked for hardware acceleration within a target integrated circuit. The circuit design is specified in a high level programming language, and at least one other function of the circuit design remains executable by a microprocessor of the target integrated circuit. Each of the plurality of data transfers is characterized. Each of the plurality of data transfers is correlated with resources of the target integrated circuit. A programmatic description of a data transfer network is generated for the circuit design. The data transfer network connects the hardware accelerator and the microprocessor according to the characterizing and the correlating.