what is front end and back end ?

[vikram789]

im working as a newbie in a memory company ..they use these terms frequently ...can anyone tell me what they mean

 

[arjun1110]

Hi Vikram,

With respect to Digital Design.

Front End: RTL coding,Functional Simulation/Verification.
Backend means Implementation which includes, Synthesis,Place and Route,Static Timing Analysis,Physical verification.

Synthsis can be done by either Front end or Backend Engineer.

Regards

 

[kumar_eee]

Front-end means it could be any schematic, RTL coding, RTL Verification & etc...
Back-end means implementing the design in terms of transistor with std cells.This invloves floorplan,placement,CTS, routing & DRC/LVS..

Hope it is clear now.

 

[vlsi123]

To add more,

It depends on which flow you are referring to.

Anything to do with the logic, algorithms etc comes in frontend.

If you are designing a Digital Design, Then RTL coding, Verification forms the front End.(Ex MicroProcessor). Anything that refers to the Physical design of the chip,
Floorplanning, Place& Route, Clock tree Synthesis, Layout, DRC, LVS, Parasitic Extraction evrything comes is usually called as backend.

If you are doing analog/RF/DSP Designs, transitor level Schematic design and Simulation, Matlab etc forms your frontend. (Ex, OpAmp, ADCs etc)
Custom layout, DRC, LVS, Extracion, DFM everything becomes a part of back end.

If u r new, Think which one is of your interest and decide accordinly. and enhance your skills slowly in that.