Platform design for compatible semi-custom design flow

Semi-custom design flow is an efficient way to design digital integrated circuit (IC). It realizes physical IC design through translating hardware description languages (HDL) into a GDS layout file. By running scripts, the HDL code is synthesized into a cell level schematic. Then, the placing and routing procedures are performed, violations are fixed, optimizations are achieved, and verifications are finished. Synopsys and Cadence are two leading companies in the Electronic Design Automation (EDA) industry. But most of time, foundries fail to provide two separate design kits for two companies. If the foundry only provides a design kit for tools from one leading EDA company, it will be difficult to use the same kit for the other one. In this paper, the main difference between design kits of different companies are shown, and a solution to make one design kits compatible with the other one is provided.