What tools are everyone using? Is it recommended to use Magic over other layout tools like Electric? Has anyone been successful in adding the Skywater130 PDK into Electric?

I have never worked with Electric but I like Magic because you can write a lef file directly from the tool and it has continuous DRC checks.

I briefly tried both and I liked the workflow within Electric more since it includes schematic capture, spice simulation interfaces and layout together. It can also make use of LEF files and do continuous DRC as well. However, it seems like it’s not very straightforward to add a custom PDK to Electric. How easy is it to do LVS in Magic? I never really figured out the workflow for that in Magic.

If I am correct you need to use NetGen to do LVS. its should not be overly difficult though.

That’s fair, I’ll dig into it a little more then. Has it been pretty smooth sailing for you using Magic with the Skywater PDK?

@Akash Melethil: "Smooth sailing"? Ha, ha. . . well, nobody has been beating me over the head with a virtual stick about it, but then most people will cut you a lot of slack when you're providing a tool for free. But I would call it a pretty steep learning curve. Plus the new PDK has forced me to do additional development in magic, and the development comes with associated bugs, and my list of bugs that need to be investigated and fixed is growing.

@Tim Edwards Haha that’s fair. For someone starting out, would you recommend sticking to Magic for working with the Skywater PDK or will it not matter too much which tool is used?

@Akash Melethil: In the long run it won't matter that much; at the moment, I think Magic has the most completely developed tech file, parameterized device generator, and DRC rules.

@Tim Edwards Fair enough. I’ll switch over to Magic then. Thanks!