scripting language for Layout Engineer PERL Or Python

[MahmoudHassan]

Hello
which of those scripting language is better for Layout Engineer/VLSI Career PERL Or Python ?

I am confused about which one of those scripting languages is useful for VLSI career i read about PERL (https://www.edaboard.com/threads/76806/) and it was really helpful but what about Python is it can be the same as PERL or better or worse ??
Your time and help is really appreciated
Thanks

 

[dick_freebird]

In my observation (I design analog type stuff, not a
CAD guru) Python seems to have displaced PERL as the
CAD scripting language of choice. I do not know why
or how completely. And I'd say that being good at either
makes it a fair bet you could pick up the other in the
course of doing whatever the real job at hand, is.

Now, the CAD tools I have used all had their own
internal language and they both seemed LISP-like.
You might undertake to study the user forums for
a tool-set you think it's likely you'd use in your
near future, see what those presently using it are
doing for scripting, and get in line. But you may find
those discussions are not conclusive (which would
mean you don't have to be concerned about there
being only one right choice, globally).

 

[ananthesh bhat]

Hello
which of those scripting language is better for Layout Engineer/VLSI Career PERL Or Python ?

I am confused about which one of those scripting languages is useful for VLSI career i read about PERL (https://www.edaboard.com/threads/76806/) and it was really helpful but what about Python is it can be the same as PERL or better or worse ??
Your time and help is really appreciated
Thanks

Hello Hassan,

For analog layout automation , it will be helpful for you if you can learn SKILL language. This is internal for cadence tools. Since cadence is the dominant EDA vendor for the analog design companies, learning SKILL is a good choice.

Regards,
Ananthesh

 

[MahmoudHassan]

So learning SKILL language (or any CAD tools own scripting language) will be helpful rather than learning
Python or PERL ?
what exactly those scripting language (python or perl) used for in back-end ?
i think it is used for making steps in layout more automated and also for test and verification is this correct ?

 

[dick_freebird]

It depends on what you want to do. For operations within
the specific tool set, the internal scripting language probably
offers more power over data objects with less effort (and,
perhaps, a decent base of reusable code and mid-level
scripts). But for working between two different vendors'
tools (or vendor and user) a UNIX filesystem manipulation
of data may be the only way to go (unless you want to
teach SKILL to play nice with whatever Mentor uses, etc.
and use UNIX file I/O to move data still).

Now I have seen useful scripting done from Cadence menus
modified to involve PERL scripts (like Spectre netlist
optimization, scanning and replacing multiple parallel FET
instances with one single that matches total geometry,
in the interest of solution convergence and speed).

Of course the right answer from the hiring party's point
of view is "all of the above, ready to rock, get busy coding".
I'd declare that plan and proceed with any of these as a
first step along the lifelong learning journey. Interviewers
like to see a plan as much as a legacy (as long as that
plan looks useful and nonthreatening).

 

[MahmoudHassan]

It depends on what you want to do. For operations within
the specific tool set, the internal scripting language probably
offers more power over data objects with less effort (and,
perhaps, a decent base of reusable code and mid-level
scripts). But for working between two different vendors'
tools (or vendor and user) a UNIX filesystem manipulation
of data may be the only way to go (unless you want to
teach SKILL to play nice with whatever Mentor uses, etc.
and use UNIX file I/O to move data still).

Now I have seen useful scripting done from Cadence menus
modified to involve PERL scripts (like Spectre netlist
optimization, scanning and replacing multiple parallel FET
instances with one single that matches total geometry,
in the interest of solution convergence and speed).

Of course the right answer from the hiring party's point
of view is "all of the above, ready to rock, get busy coding".
I'd declare that plan and proceed with any of these as a
first step along the lifelong learning journey. Interviewers
like to see a plan as much as a legacy (as long as that
plan looks useful and nonthreatening).

I am really grateful for this discussion with you , thanks a lot for your time and help really appreciated
also i hope you have blog/website that you share your experience in it.
Thanks a lot

 

[velkumargn]

Hi,

For VLSI back end work perl is best one compared with python. Python is playing big role on IoT and some other software domains.

no question perl or python is best , they both have benefits based on usage. perl is used by the most of the VLSI company since it is user friendly. good for file handing.

If you know one language, learning other language will take about 2 week only.

TCL, SKILL, B shell, C shell are good to use in vlsi. my better suggestion is just go with perl , then you get all other while working in a company based on company need ...........

 

[MahmoudHassan]

Actually I started to learn Python from one of the MOOCs courses on EDX
I think after learning it i will try to jump to PERL or Skills as i am more interested on Analog IC
Is this ok ?

Thanks a lot for your time and help really appreciated