Back end and Front end

[meeyaw]

Hello experts in edaboard,

Though I am quite familiar on how semiconductor design companies work, i still puzzled with words back-end engineering and front-end engineering. Can you help me understanding these terms? If possible, can you give examples of VLSI design process that are back-end or front-end for me to enlighten me on that two words ... Thanks folks!

 

[rahul.achates]

I can give you an example --

when you build a house , you first get permission , prepared layout, design and all ... once you are sure that design will work , then you start building up the construction ... same apply in VLSI .. for a design, front-end is soft code programming including verification , to make sure the design will work ... then we go for physical design , which is back end.
in back end , we do layout , and actual cell implementation . ..

hope this will help you to understand the term front end and back end.

 

[meeyaw]

Hi rahul,

Thanks for the very informative answer as well as easy example. Two questions though:
(1) at when STA a back-end engineering or a front-end engineering? This is where my confusion comes in
(2) is Synthesis is a front-end? (note: i am not very well familiar with this Synthesis, since I am a sort-of HW guy )

Thanks for any answers