1. A method for designing software in a software design environment, comprising: providing, in a software design tool, a software block including one or more data elements of one of signal-type or parameter-type; designating, independently for each use of the software block, at least one of the one or more data elements as one of a port or a property; establish, if the at least one data element is designated as a property, a value associated with the property; establish, if the at least one data element is designated as a port, a connection with one or more software blocks associated with the software design environment; and generating at least a portion of software code associated with the software block based on the designation of the at least one data element.