The nECO module from Novas Software performs an engineering-change order at the gate-level netlist within the company's Debussy debugging system. The nECO module reduces the time it takes to implement change orders by automating netlist changes associated with timing closure, functional bug fixes, floorplanning, and design repartitioning.

With the module, users locate all relevant logic with standard Debussy features employing string and connectivity-driven search techniques along with dragging and dropping signals from the RTL design. The software then isolates the resulting logic in a flat, editable schematic. Users have control over the amount of surrounding logic the schematic displays, regardless of the hierarchical structure of the netlist. Users then make necessary changes in the schematic by adding or deleting cells or rewiring the logic.

Before a user commits to the changes, nECO displays a summary with change details and potential problems for review. After the user commits to the changes, the Debussy source code and schematics views reflect them.

The nECO module then writes the modified design to a new netlist file or files. The user controls which files to change, everything under a given scope, or the entire design. The file automatically includes comments documenting the changes. The module then generates a report that contains all the details of the change for inspection or change tracking.

Users can easily create a new copy of a module to make changes that affect only one instance of that module. For metal-only changes, users can direct nECO to automatically locate the spare cells in the netlist or provide them as a list of instances. Users can then restrict changes based on the available spare cells. Prices for nECO start at $50,000.

Novas, 1-408-467-7888, www.novas.com.