For those of us who are just starting out with VHDL, I have developed a workflow using Intel's Quartus Prime software. I write my code in VHDL (with help from some of Quartus VHDL templates), compile it to a block diagram symbol, and assemble my system using these blocks. I can test it on a MAX10 board, then build my final VHDL code and compile using Lattice icecube2.
Advantage is, it lets me build my VHDL skills on my basic modules, and then graduate to full designs. Cushions the shock of going from blocks to code. So far, so good.