1. A computer-implemented method comprising: receiving an executable block diagram model at an editing stage; automatically tracing a signal connection through one or more navigable blocks in the executable block diagram model during the editing stage; displaying tracing results in a graphical user interface (GUI) during the editing stage, displaying comprising highlighting the signal connection on the GUI; compiling the executable block diagram model during a compiling stage that follows the editing stage; and executing the executable block diagram model during an executing stage that follows the compiling stage, the executing producing an execution result.