Front-end to Back-end transition

[master_picengineer]

Hi everybody,
Please can someone explain how to move from frontend to backend design ?
What is the entry point to the backend design (file formats) ?

 

[deh_fuhrer]

Hi everybody,
Please can someone explain how to move from frontend to backend design ?
What is the entry point to the backend design (file formats) ?

first file format to start with, is the .lef

 

[mujju433]

The entry files for backend designer are verilog netlist, leffiles , min and max libraries ,.sdc files ,.lib files......

 

[master_picengineer]

Danke fuhrer,
Aber was ist die tool ?

 

[cafukarfoo]

Hello master_picengineer,

After you completed the RTL coding and synthesis,

the synthesized netlist ( *.v ) will be passed to backend to do floorplanning and clock trunk/CTS.

the constraint and library used in synthesis ( *.sdc, *.lib, *.db ) will be passed to backend to do STA.

From analog design ( IO + standard cell ),
they will pass the IO and standard cell physical information ( *.lef ) for floorplanning, placement and routing.

they will also pass the IO and standard cell full physical information ( *.gds ) for
DRC, LVS verification.

 

[vizpal]

Dude, if u feel that ur done with front end, its ur choice.... back end might suite u.
But, I recoment you expertise in one field !!!

 

[master_picengineer]

Hi vizpal,
Why not in both ?
Nice recommendation for Lazy people !

 

[onlymusic16]

every task is challenging task , be it front end or backend.

For backend, LEF/DEF knowledge is the first thing that should be grasped. Once you are comfortable with that, start from the floorplanning step and proceed.

 

[deh_fuhrer]

Hi vizpal,
Why not in both ?
Nice recommendation for Lazy people !

Hi master_picengineer,
you cannot become expert in both the fields until and unless you spend a lot of time (close to 3yrs minimum) in it. Reason is the changing technology nodes and the challenges associated with that. But if you are good backend designer then you always have an edge. Above 130nm backend designers are not in much demand, but the deep-submicron effects have change the overall scenario drastically, now companies are running for back-end guys. Back-end is no longer an automation job, you have to have a very clear about the process parameters, static timing analysis, signal integrity issues, yield analysis,etc.. So my advice is concentrate on one, but dont leave the other aspect, as now good designer is the one who have both domain knowledge, you'll not be considered as a good backend designer if you dont know front-end and vice versa. But in front-end you can safely ignore verification stuff.Only design and synthesis will be good....

Thanks,