Database structure targets nanometer-scale chip design

Following the acquisition of Avanti, Synopsys has announced the Galaxy platform for advanced system-on-chip designs, which combines tools from the Synopsys offering, such as Design Compiler and PrimeTime, with back-end tools from the Avanti stable. The company has also unified its tool chain around the Milkyway database and made that database an open-software offering. Use of the Milkyway database allows consistent timing descriptions, common libraries, delay calculations, and constraints throughout the design cycle to reside in a single format.

A pressing need exists in nanometer-scale design for all data to be available to the entire tool chain in a consistent form. However, Synopsys claims significant gains result by simply avoiding constant translation among data formats. Different levels of access to the database structure depend on the agreement in place between users and Synopsys. These levels range from industry-standard formats, such as EDIF and LEF/DEF; through access by scripting language, such as Scheme and TCL; to the most direct interface via a C-based API. The access program will be available to all Synopsys partners and other EDA

Synopsys, www.synopsys.com.