Mapping GTECH to specific cells from your Target Library.
The standard synthesis flow followed by industry teams typically involves the following steps:
set search_path "./rtl ./cons ./libs $search_path" set target_library "saed32nm_tt.db" set synthetic_library "dw_foundation.sldb" set link_library "* $target_library $synthetic_library"
Synopsys Design Compiler (2021) is an industry-standard tool for synthesizing RTL code into optimized gate-level netlists, utilizing topographical flows for better timing, area, and power results. The process involves setting up a .synopsys_dc.setup file, defining constraints (SDC), running compile_ultra , and analyzing results with reports before exporting the final netlist. For a detailed guide, see the Design Compiler Tutorial 2021. synopsys design compiler tutorial 2021
set_fix_multiple_port_nets -all -buffer_constants
# Remove unneeded internal assign statements from output netlist set verilogout_no_tri true # Save the gate-level structural Verilog netlist write -format verilog -hierarchy -output ./outputs/top_module_netlist.v # Save the design state into a Synopsys internal format (DDC) write -format ddc -hierarchy -output ./outputs/top_module.ddc # Export the final constraints file for Place and Route (P&R) write_sdc ./outputs/top_module.sdc # Export Standard Delay Format (SDF) file for gate-level simulation write_sdf ./outputs/top_module.sdf Use code with caution. 8. Automating the Flow: Complete Tcl Script Template
report_power > reports/power.rpt
Open a terminal and invoke the GUI or shell mode.
If available, it offers faster runtime and superior quality of results (QoR) compared to standard Topographical mode.
Negative slack indicates timing failure. Resolve this by pipelining your RTL, simplifying complex combinational paths, or evaluating if your target clock frequency is realistic for the chosen process node. Mapping GTECH to specific cells from your Target Library
DC 2021 can read a preliminary floorplan to estimate routing congestion.
This guide moves from foundational concepts to advanced constraint scripting, covering the synthesis flow used in industry standard ASIC design.
For simpler designs or educational purposes, the classic compile command can be used, but compile_ultra is the industry standard. For a detailed guide, see the Design Compiler Tutorial 2021
# Save the synthesized gate-level netlist write -format verilog -hierarchy -output top_module_synthesized.v # Save the updated design constraints write_sdc top_module.sdc # Save the internal design database write -format ddc -hierarchy -output top_module.ddc Use code with caution. 4. Analyzing Synthesis Reports
