ICP Automation

Introduction

This project is automation of toolchain for IC Project course.

Initial setup

In the main directory run the following in command line and then reload the terminal:

touch ~/.bash_aliases
echo "alias icp='source $PWD/scripts/setup_icp'" >> ~/.bash_aliases
echo "alias map_files='source $SCRIPT_DIR/map_files'" >> ~/.bash_aliases

After this setup_icp can be easily called by `icp' from any directory.

What commands do

setup_icp : sets up environment (QuestaSim, Genus, Encounter, PrimeTime and STM Libraries) for Digital IC design.
map_files : sets environment variables like file and library names that are then used by different programs.
ictool : toolchain script.

Script call structure

setup_icp
│   project_dirs    (user defined)

map_files
|   env/lib_list        (user defined)
|   env/lib_prefs       (user defined)
|   env/file_list       (user defined)

ictool
|   lib_paths		(user defined)
|
└── simulate
|   |   sim/sim_prefs   (user defined)
│   │   sim/waves.do    (user defined)
|   |   sim/vcd.do      (user defined)
│
└── synthesis
|   └── synth/synthesis.tcl
|       |   synth/synth_prefs.tcl  (user defined) 
│       
└── layout
|   └── pnr/pnr_flow.tcl    (wip)
|       |   pnr/mmmc.view   (wip)
|       |   pnr/pad.io      (user defined)
│    
└── power
    |   pwr/power.tcl

Examples

Setup Environment:

This allows user to call genus, primetime, encounter, vsim etc from command line:

icp

Update project files

This command should be run after icp, it updates the environt variables that are needed for ictool.

map_files

Synthesis:

ictool -o synth -p LPHVT -c bc -v 1.05 -t 105

If the options -p LPHVT -c bc -v 1.05 -t 105 are not specified, then the defaults are used from lib_prefs file

Simulation:

ictool -o sim

And then choosing a simulation option:
b - behavioural model
s - post-synthesis design
l - post-layout design
vcd - post-layout simulation that generates vcd file

Layout:

ictool -o layout

Power simulation:

ictool -o power

Considerations

• setup_icp script can stop working if the institution changes tools and their directories.