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Cheap/free IC Design software

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design_oriented

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Hi Guys,

Are there any free IC Design software packages? MG and Cadence are too expensive.

Thanks.
 

Magic and Electric are open source free ones. LASI is a layout tool and is free. There are various free or low cost Spice simulators such as Winspice. The demo versions of some packages can be quite useful e.g. SIMetrix free version is only limited by circuit size, not function:

Keith.
 

The real question is, "Where are the free foundry PDKs?".

Because you can make whatever kind of polygon stew you
want, but it comes to nothing if you can't get it onto the reticle
(and foundries can be very rigid about the "golden" tapeout
tool set) or if it's all on you to make the layers, device
primitives, models and verification decks.

You might spend some time working backwards from that
viewpoint, and see if any free tools support the foundry
you intend to use, and vice versa.
 

Foundries supply Hspice models. DRC you have to do yourself unless the foundry will do it. I know some foundries will do DRC for a reasonable cost. You can use their GDSII device primitives as a starting point for layout. It may not be ideal, but it can certainly be done with some foundries. It depends on what you are trying to achieve. I have never used Cadence but have successfully made more than a dozen analog chips.

Keith.
 

Thanks for the link,Keith.
I am trying to run that in windows. I didn't look to see if this is UNIX only but does that run in windows? I was looking for a setup file but could not find it.

I agree, Dick. Right now I am trying to design a VCO test chip and thinking of using mosis to tape it out.
 

design_oriented said:
Thanks for the link,Keith.
I am trying to run that in windows. I didn't look to see if this is UNIX only but does that run in windows? I was looking for a setup file but could not find it.

I agree, ****. Right now I am trying to design a VCO test chip and thinking of using mosis to tape it out.
Click to expand...

If you mean SIMetrix, it is Windoze, but there is a Linux version as well.

Keith
 

I believe Electric has linux binaries but last time I played
with it (maybe 5 years or more) I had to compile it from
source w/ MS visual C++.

I never did use it seriously because its "arc" construct
was essential to LVS, but reading in GDS files the "arcs"
are not made, so you can't have any hope of working
on "legacy" / external designs to completion.

I would give LASI a serious look, there are some MOSIS
setups (thouch MOSIS spans multiple foundries and your
target fab may, or may not, be among them).
 

dick_freebird said:
I would give LASI a serious look, there are some MOSIS
setups (thouch MOSIS spans multiple foundries and your
target fab may, or may not, be among them).
Click to expand...

I have done a few designs with LASI with no problems. I have never used for LVS, although I have written a few DRC files.

Keith.
 

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