OpenLane/docs/source/reference/pdk_configuration.md

PDK Configuration Variables

These variables are defined by PDK configuration files to support the OpenLane flow and its steps.

All these variables (unless marked optional) are defined by the PDK, but some may also be overriden by a user configuration.

Any examples provided are for the `sky130A` PDK.

Variable	Description
DEF_UNITS_PER_MICRON	Defines the unit distance microns. Used during floorplanning for proper def file generation.
VDD_PIN	Defines the power pin of the cells.
GND_PIN	Defines the ground pin of the cells.
TRACKS_INFO_FILE	Points to the path of the tracks file. Used by the floorplanner to generate tracks
TECH_LEF_MIN	Points to the path of the tech lef used for minimum corner extraction. (Optional)
TECH_LEF	Points to the path of the tech lef used for nominal corner extraction.
TECH_LEF_MAX	Points to the path of the tech lef used for maximum corner extraction. (Optional)
CELLS_LEF	A list of paths to the cells lef views. Recommended to use wild card to catch all the files as follows: [glob "$::env(PDK_ROOT)/sky130A/libs.ref/$::env(STD_CELL_LIBRARY)/lef/*.lef"]
GDS_FILES	A list of paths to the cells GDSII views. Recommended to use wild card to catch all the files as follows: [glob "$::env(PDK_ROOT)/sky130A/libs.ref/$::env(STD_CELL_LIBRARY)/gds/*.gds"]
MAGIC_TECH_FILE	Points to the magic tech file which mainly has drc rules.
KLAYOUT_TECH	Points to the klayout tech file (.lyt).
KLAYOUT_PROPERTIES	Points to the klayout properties file (.lyp).
KLAYOUT_DEF_LAYER_MAP	Points to klayout deflef layer map file (.map).
KLAYOUT_XOR_IGNORE_LAYERS	A space separated layers list to ignore during klayout xor check.
MAGIC_MAGICRC	Points to the magicrc file that is sourced while running magic in the flow.
GPIO_PADS_LEF	A list of the pads lef views. For example:[glob "$::env(PDK_ROOT)/sky130A/libs.ref/sky130_fd_io/lef/sky130_fd_io.lef"]
GPIO_PADS_PREFIX	A list of pad cells name prefixes.
NETGEN_SETUP_FILE	Points to the setup file for netgen(lvs), that can exclude certain cells etc..
FP_TAPCELL_DIST	The distance between tapcell columns. Used in floorplanning in tapcell insertion.
DEFAULT_MAX_TRAN	Defines the default maximum transition value, used in CTS & synthesis.
FP_PDN_RAIL_OFFSET	Defines the rail offset for met1 used in PDN. (Example: 0)
FP_PDN_HSPACING	The spacing between horizontal power/ground pair (Default: 1.7)
FP_PDN_VSPACING	The spacing between vertical power/ground pair (Default: 1.7)
FP_PDN_VOFFSET	The offset of the vertical power stripes on the metal layer 5 in the power distribution network (Default: 16.32)
FP_PDN_VPITCH	The pitch of the vertical power stripes on the metal layer 4 in the power distribution network (Default: 153.6)
FP_PDN_HOFFSET	The offset of the horizontal power stripes on the metal layer 5 in the power distribution network (Default: 16.65)
FP_PDN_HPITCH	The pitch of the horizontal power stripes on the metal layer 5 in the power distribution network (Default: 153.18)
FP_PDN_VWIDTH	Defines the strap width for the vertical layer used in PDN. (Example: 1.6)
FP_PDN_HWIDTH	Defines the strap width for the horizontal layer used in PDN. (Example: 1.6)
FP_PDN_CORE_RING_VWIDTH	Defines the vertical width for the vertical layer used to create the core ring in the PDN. (Example: 20)
FP_PDN_CORE_RING_HWIDTH	Defines the horizontal width for the horizontal layer used to create the core ring in the PDN. (Example: 20)
FP_PDN_CORE_RING_VSPACING	Defines the spacing for the vertical layer used to create the core ring in the PDN. (Example: 5)
FP_PDN_CORE_RING_HSPACING	Defines the spacing for the horizontal layer used to create the core ring in the PDN. (Example: 5)
FP_PDN_CORE_RING_VOFFSET	Defines the offset for the vertical layer used to create the core ring in the PDN. (Example: 20)
FP_PDN_CORE_RING_HOFFSET	Defines the offset for the horizontal layer used to create the core ring in the PDN. (Example: 20)
WIRE_RC_LAYER	The metal layer used in estimate parastics set_wire_rc. (Example: met1)
GRT_LAYER_ADJUSTMENTS	Layer-specific reductions in the routing capacity of the edges between the cells in the global routing graph, delimited by commas. Values range from 0 to 1. (Example: 0.99,0,0,0,0,0)
FP_IO_HLAYER	The metal layer on which to place the io pins horizontally (top and bottom of the die). (Example: met3)
FP_IO_VLAYER	The metal layer on which to place the io pins vertically (sides of the die) (Example: met2)
FP_TAPCELL_DIST	The horizontal distance between two tapcell columns (Default: 14)
RT_MIN_LAYER	The lowest metal layer to route on. (Example: met1)
RT_MAX_LAYER	The highest metal layer to route on. (Example: met5)
RCX_RULES_MIN	OpenRCX rules at the minimum corner. (Optional)
RCX_RULES	OpenRCX rules at the nominal corner.
RCX_RULES_MAX	OpenRCX rules at the maximum corner. (Optional)
WIRE_LENGTH_THRESHOLD	A value in microns above which wire lengths generate warnings, and, if QUIT_ON_LONG_WIRE is set, the flow will error out. If a PDK does not set this value, the value is considered to be infinite. (Optional)

SCL-specific variables

This section defines the necessary variables to configure a standard cell library for use with OpenLane:

Variable	Description
LIB_SYNTH	Points to the lib file used during synthesis.
LIB_SLOWEST	Points to the lib file, corresponding to the slowest corner, for max delay calculation during STA.
LIB_FASTEST	Points to the lib file, corresponding to the fastest corner, for min delay calculation during STA.
LIB_TYPICAL	Points to the lib file for typical delay calculation during STA.
DFF_LIB_SYNTH	Points to the lib file for used for dff mapping. If not specified, LIB_SYNTH is used. (Optional)
PLACE_SITE	Defines the main site used by the cells. Used during floorplanning to generate the rows.
PLACE_SITE_WIDTH	Defines the main site width. Used during floorplanning to generate the rows.
PLACE_SITE_HEIGHT	Defines the main site height. Used during floorplanning to generate the rows.
FP_WELLTAP_CELL	Defines the tapcell to be used in tapcell insertion. If this is not defined then tapcell insertion will be skipped but the flow will resume normally
FP_ENDCAP_CELL	Defines the decapcell. Inserted during floorplanning at the sides of the design.
SYNTH_DRIVING_CELL	The cell to drive the input ports, used in synthesis and static timing analysis. (Example: sky130_fd_sc_hd__inv_1)
SYNTH_DRIVING_CELL_PIN	The name of the SYNTH_DRIVING_CELL's output pin. (Default: Y)
SYNTH_CLK_DRIVING_CELL	An alternative cell with which to drive clock inputs. Can be left empty, where the SDC script will use SYNTH_DRIVING_CELL for clock inputs as well.
SYNTH_CLK_DRIVING_CELL_PIN	The name of the SYNTH_CLK_DRIVING_CELL output pin. Can be left empty, where the SDC script will use SYNTH_DRIVING_CELL_PIN.
SYNTH_CAP_LOAD	Defines the capacitive load on the output ports in femtofarads. Used in synthesis
SYNTH_MIN_BUF_PORT	Defines the buffer, followed by its input port and output port to be used by ins_buf statements by yosys. It inserts buffer cells into the design for directly connected wires. (Example: sky130_fd_sc_hd__buf_2 A X )
SYNTH_TIEHI_PORT	Defines the tie high cell followed by the port that implements the tie high functionality. Used in synthesis. (Example: sky130_fd_sc_hd__conb_1 HI)
SYNTH_TIELO_PORT	Defines the tie low cell followed by the port that implements the tie high functionality. Used in synthesis. (Example: sky130_fd_sc_hd__conb_1 LO)
TRISTATE_CELL_PREFIX	Prefix of tristate cells. Used with SYNTH_CHECKS_ALLOW_TRISTATE. Example sky130_fd_sc_hd__ebuf
FILL_CELL	Defines the fill cell. Used in fill insertion. Can use a wild card to define a class of cells. Example sky130_fd_sc_hd__fill_*
DECAP_CELL	Defines the decap cell used for fill insertion. Can use a wild card to define a class of cells. Example sky130_fd_sc_hd__fill_*
DIODE_CELL_PIN	Defines the DIODE_CELL pin. This is required if DIODE_CELL is defined
DIODE_CELL	Defines the diode cell to be used during antenna violations fix step. If this is not defined then the no antenna violations fixes will be attempted
GPL_CELL_PADDING	Cell padding value (in sites) for global placement. (Example: 2)
DPL_CELL_PADDING	Defines the number of sites to pad the cells with during detailed placement. This value should not be higher than GPL_CELL_PADDING unless you know what you're doing. (Example: 2)
CELL_PAD_EXCLUDE	Defines the cells to exclude from padding for both detailed placement.
CTS_ROOT_BUFFER	Defines the cell inserted at the root of the clock tree. Used in CTS.
CTS_CLK_BUFFER_LIST	Defines the list of clock buffers to be used in CTS.
CTS_MAX_CAP	Defines the maximum capacitance, used in CTS.
STD_CELL_POWER_PINS	Defines power pins of stdcells. Used in PDN.
STD_CELL_GROUND_PINS	Defines ground pins of stdcells. Used in PDN.
FP_PDN_HORIZONTAL_LAYER	Defines the upper layer used in PDN.
FP_PDN_VERTICAL_LAYER	Defines the lower layer used in PDN.
FP_PDN_RAIL_LAYER	Defines the rail layer used in PDN.
FP_PDN_RAIL_WIDTH	Defines the rail width for the rail layer used in PDN.
SYNTH_LATCH_MAP	A pointer for the file containing the latch mapping for yosys. (Optional)
TRISTATE_BUFFER_MAP	A pointer for the file containing the tri-state buffer mapping for yosys. (Optional)
CARRY_SELECT_ADDER_MAP	A pointer for the file containing the carry-select adder mapping for Yosys. (Optional)
RIPPLE_CARRY_ADDER_MAP	A pointer for the file containing the ripple-carry adder mapping for Yosys. (Optional)
FULL_ADDER_MAP	A pointer for the file containing the full adder mapping for Yosys. (Optional)
NO_SYNTH_CELL_LIST	Specifies the file that contains the don't-use-cell-list to be excluded from the liberty file during synthesis. See this section for more information.
DRC_EXCLUDE_CELL_LIST	Specifies the file that contains the don't-use-cell-list to be excluded from the liberty file during synthesis and timing optimizations. See this section for more information.
CVC_SCRIPTS_DIR	A directory of Circuit Validity Checker (CVC) scripts for the relevant PDK. Must contain the following set of files: cvcrc, an initialization file, cdl.awk, an awk script to remove black box definitions from SPICE files, models, cell models, and finally power.awk, an awk script that adds power information to the verilog netlists.
STD_CELL_LIBRARY_CDL	A pointer for the cdl view of the SCL.
LAYERS_RC	A comma separated list specifying capacitance and resistance per layer. Variable should be provided in the following format. <layer_name> <capacitance> <resistance>, <layer_name> ... (warning) (Optional)
VIAS_RC	A comma separated list specifying capacitance -only- of vias. Variable should be provided in the following format. <layer_name> <capacitance> , <layer_name> ... (warning) (Optional)

Tracks Info File

The tracks files defines the metal layers pitches and offsets. This information should be extracted from the PDK's tech lef. The file should be an EOL-delimited set of lines formatted as follows:

<layer name> X|Y <offset> <pitch>

DRC Exclude Cells File

Some cells may be excluded from PnR entirely- due to hard-to-access pin shapes and/or the cells simply being invalid (DRC violations.)

For sky130, the "lpflow" cells were also excluded because the flow is unable
to handle them properly and create a keep-alive power (KAPWR) supply.

The file is formatted as an EOL-delimited list of cell names (wildcards and the like not supported.)

No Synthesis Cells File

Some cells may be furtherexcluded from synthesis, for reasons including but not limited to the following:

• Excluded from PnR, i.e., part of the DRC Exclude Cells.
• Clock Buffers: They are balanced and may introduce too much of a delay when not used for clock trees as part of CTS.
• Cells without default mapping: Cannot be used by Yosys.
• Smaller cell sizes: Prevents under-estimating the required floorplan. The resizer may later choose to use them.

The file is formatted as an EOL-delimited list of cell names (wildcards and the like not supported.)

All cells excluded from PnR are also excluded from Synthesis.