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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Section 1: About PyCell Studio™
Section 2: PyCell Studio Support
Section 3: Authoring PyCells™: Interoperable OpenAccess PCells
Section 4: Using PyCells to Design Integrated Circuits
Section 5: Migrating SKILL® PCells into Other OpenAccess Tools with PCell Xtreme™
Section 6: About OpenAccess
Section 7: About Python
Section 8: Learning More
FAQ Section 1: About PyCell Studio
| Q. | Who is eligible to download PyCell Studio for free? |
| A. | Everyone. All we require is valid registration information (name, company, email address and phone number) and acceptance of our End User License Agreement (PDF). |
| Q. | What are the hidden costs of Ciranova's "free" PyCell Studio software? |
| A. | There are no hidden costs. You may write PyCells, deploy libraries, create IC databases, and build chips using the free software downloadable here. Ciranova's business model for PyCell Studio is to sell premium support and premium features to PyCell Studio users, rather than licensing the software. Most companies who wish to utilize PyCells in a critical IC design project will want hot fixes, telephone and email access to Ciranova's support team and guaranteed response times for their support requests. Please click here for more information on available Premium Support options. |
| Q. | Where can I see a demo? |
| A. | Click here to seen an online demo. |
| Q. | What operating systems does PyCell Studio support? |
| A. | PyCell Studio is currently available for the following platforms:
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| Q. | Do you have a university program? |
| A. | Everything an engineering curriculum needs to write PyCells and deploy PyCell libraries is available for free download. |
| Q. | Can we release a tool that incorporates the source code from one of your utilities? |
| A. | Yes. Please see our End User License Agreement (PDF) for the specific terms. |
| Q. | Can we build your Core Technology into our in-house tool? |
| A. | Yes. Please contact Ciranova for more information. |
| Q. | Can we incorporate Ciranova Core Technology into a tool we are developing for sale? |
| A. | Yes, but not under the terms of our free user agreement. Please click here to contact Ciranova. |
FAQ Section 2: PyCell Studio Support
| Q. | Is commercial support available for PyCell Studio? |
| A. |
Yes. Ciranova offers responsive commercial support for PyCell Studio
developers and PyCell users. Included with support contracts are
several productivity enhancement features. Click here to see more information. |
| Q. | What patches, fixes and updates can I get for PyCell Studio? |
| A. |
Customers with a support plan receive separate patches, fixes and updates as soon as they become available. Ciranova rolls all of these into periodic releases, which will be made available to all users. |
| Q. | Where can I get help designing a PyCell library? |
| A. |
Ciranova can provide contract PyCell development as well as other services in to assist you in coming up to speed with PyCells in your flow. Please click here to contact Ciranova for more information. |
| Q. | How do I report a bug? |
| A. | Click here to send a message reporting the bug. Ciranova will roll out a knowledge-based web support system during 2007. |
FAQ Section 3: Authoring PyCells: Interoperable OpenAccess PCells
| Q. | What do I need to author PyCells? |
| A. | Click here to download
everything you need for free. You'll receive Ciranova PyCell Studio,
OpenAccess, Python, documentation, and a variety of sample code and
useful utilities. Ciranova has integrated our API and viewer with a third-party Python IDE which is included in our download. You may use it for 30 days free, after which commercial users must pay $179. |
| Q. | How is authoring PyCells different from writing PCells in another language? |
| A. | The three main differences are:
|
| Q. | Why aren't there any design rule references in your sample PyCell code? |
| A. |
The sample PyCells are deliberately authored without reference to
technology rules. Ciranova's Core Technology allows you to separate
rules from geometry, so you can focus on layout intent. Click here to learn more. |
| Q. | We've used the proprietary language which comes with our layout editor to write PCells for many years. Why should we switch? |
| A. |
Some PCell developers want their PCells to support internal tools, or
tools from another EDA vendor. Others need support for conditional
rules. You may find that the complexity of your PCells has grown beyond
what you can handle with a legacy language. Or you may just want to use
an industry-standard language like Python, which is supported by a wide
range of commercial and freeware tools, books, training, and services.
PyCells and legacy PCells can coexist in one library and in one design,
so you can develop new PCells as PyCells without having to re-write
existing PCells that you wish to maintain going forward. |
| Q. | I have written script code in SKILL to manipulate PCells in a DFII environment. Will this code work with PyCells without modification? |
| A. |
SKILL scripts that create or manipulate PCells in design databases can
instantiate PyCells just as easily. No modifications are required to
the SKILL scripts. |
| Q. | Can we release a library that uses your sample PyCell code? |
| A. | Yes. Please see our End User License Agreement (PDF) License Agreement for the specific terms. |
FAQ Section 4: Using PyCells to Design Integrated Circuits
| Q. | What EDA tools have been tested with PyCells? |
| A. |
PyCells can be used with OpenAccess 2.2 compliant tools from any vendor, including internal tools. Check with your tool provider to find out when your tools will support OpenAccess. Ciranova tests
compatibility with OpenAccess tools from vendors who provide software to our testing lab. Click here to see our latest interoperability testing results.. |
| Q. | Can PyCells and PCells written in a vendor's legacy language coexist in the same OpenAccess database? |
| A. | Yes. |
| Q. | All I want to do is design a chip using a PyCell library I was given. What do I need and how much will it cost? |
| A. |
If you are using OpenAccess-compliant design tools, you can download
everything you need for free from our download page. All you need to open a PyCell library and
instantiate PyCells is an OpenAccess PCell plug-in which is included in
the free download kit. |
| Q. | What else do I need to use PyCells, in addition to your software? |
| A. |
You will need an OpenAccess-compliant layout editor to design a chip using PyCells. Click here to view our latest Interoperability chart. If the product which interests you is not listed, contact the vendor to ask about their plans for OpenAccess support. |
| Q. | How do I instantiate PyCells in my design? |
| A. |
The same way that you instantiate other PCells, using the same dialog
boxes and commands available in your favorite graphical tools such as
Virtuoso. A PyCell library is just another library to an
OpenAccess-compliant layout editor. |
FAQ Section 5: Migrating SKILL PCells into Other OpenAccess Tools with PCell Xtreme
| Q. | How can I use my SKILL PCells in OpenAccess tools other than Virtuoso? |
| A. |
PCell Xtreme enables OpenAccess tools from multiple vendors to read and parameterize your existing SKILL PCells. It also speeds up the time required to open a database containing PCells by 10X or more. If you want to use your existing SKILL PCells in OpenAccess tools from multiple vendors, you need PCell Xtreme. Please contact Ciranova to arrange for a demo or for more information. |
| Q. | Is PCell Xtreme part of your free download? |
| A. |
No. PCell Xtreme is a separate product, available under a time-based license. Customers who purchase commercial support for PyCell Studio also receive PCell Xtreme as one of the Premium Features included with Developer and End User support programs. Click here for more information on Premium Support. |
| Q. | Can PyCells and SKILL PCells coexist in the same OpenAccess database? |
| A. | Yes. PCell Xtreme will cache them both, and accelerate the time required to open databases containing both. |
| Q. | How can I translate my SKILL PCells into PyCells? |
| A. | We do not believe that translating from one language to another is a workable process for creating quality PCell libraries. The differences between the languages and the APIs are too great, and the even if the translation appeared successful, you would still face the burden of verifying that the library created the same results in the new language.
This was one of the primary reasons Ciranova developed PCell Xtreme. PCell Xtreme enables you to use your existing SKILL PCells with OpenAccess tools from multiple vendors, without translation. The SKILL PCell evaluation is still handled by Virtuoso, ensuring that you get exactly the same geometry in other tools. For more information on PCell Xtreme, click here. |
| Q. | Does PCell Xtreme enable any OpenAccess tool to use SKILL PCells? |
| A. | PCell Xtreme enables every OpenAccess tool we have tested to use SKILL PCells. Ciranova continuously tests PCell Xtreme with released and unreleased OpenAccess tools from many vendors. Please see our Interoperability Table for the latest testing results for released products. You may also contact Ciranova to request a test with other tools not listed, including internal tools. |
| Q. | If I use Ciranova products, can I continue to develop some PCells using SKILL? |
| A. | Yes. PyCell Studio and PCell Xtreme enable you to choose the OpenAccess migration path which makes the most sense for your company. Here are some strategies you might want to consider for migrating your SKILL PCells into a multi-vendor OpenAccess flow:
|
| Q. | What operating systems does PCell Xtreme support? |
| A. | PCell Xtreme is currently available for the following platforms:
Support for more operating systems is currently under development. |
FAQ Section 6: About OpenAccess
| Q. | What is OpenAccess? |
| A. |
OpenAccess is the next generation integrated circuit design data model.
Cadence, Mentor, Synopsys, Ciranova and other EDA vendors have selected
OpenAccess as their data model for their current or next-generation
tools, and some of those tools are shipping today. OpenAccess allows
database interoperability across compliant tools from any vendor,
including internal tools. Click here to learn more. |
| Q. | Where can I get OpenAccess? |
| A. | Everything you need to get started is included in the download from Ciranova, including Python, OpenAccess, and Ciranova's tools. |
| Q. | What version of OpenAccess do Ciranova tools support? |
| A. | Ciranova makes available software supporting multiple versions of OpenAccess. Please see the downloads page for more information. |
FAQ Section 7: About Python
| Q. | What is Python? |
| A. |
Python is an interpreted, interactive, object-oriented programming
language. It is often compared to Tcl, Perl, Scheme or Java. Python
combines remarkable power with very clear syntax. It features modules,
classes, exceptions, very high level data types, and dynamic typing.
Ciranova uses Python as an extension language for our layout APIs. Click here to learn more. |
| Q. | Why did you choose Python as your authoring language for PyCell Studio? |
| A. | Python is a widely used language which is quickly gaining popularity in EDA. Among Python's many advantages are:
Ciranova's COO & VP of Engineering, Ed Petrus, has delivered a presentation entitled, "The Case for Python," discussing the requirements for an EDA extension language and Python's advantages for this purpose. Click here to view it. Many resources are available, on the web and in print. Some excellent books are available from Amazon.com and Computer-Books.us. If you prefer an online guide, this one is quite good. |
| Q. | Where do I have to go to get Python? |
| A. |
Everything you need to get started is included in the PyCell Studio download from
Ciranova, including Python, OpenAccess, and Ciranova's tools. |
FAQ Section 8: Learning More
| Q. | Where can I learn more about OpenAccess? |
| A. | Click here to visit Si2. |
| Q. | Where can I learn more about Python? |
| A. | Click here to visit the Python Programming Language home page. |
| Q. | Where can I get Python and OpenAccess? |
| A. | Everything you need to get started is included in the download from Ciranova, including Python, OpenAccess, and Ciranova's tools. |
Cadence, Virtuoso and SKILL are registered trademarks of Cadence Design Systems, Inc.