* Change: In Hurricane::Script, when running a script, no longer do it
inside a Python sun-interpreter, use the current one. This way we
no longer have our modules initialized twice or more, which was
starting to be unmanageable (with the NDA support).
The settings were re-read multiple time to the same value, so it
was working, but still...
I hope I didn't left some dangling Python objects now.
* Bug: In Hurricane::LayoutGenerator::drawLayout(), get the device abutment
box though a Pyhon object *before* finalizing which removes that objet.
* New: In cumulus/plugins/__init__.py, add a "loadPlugins()" and static
initialisation to preload plugins modules.
We use that pre-loading step to append to the module __path__ attribute
the alternate directory where a NDA covered may be found. This assume that
the directory tree under the NDA root is identical to the one under the
public root.
* New: In cumulus/plugins/chip/__init__.py, small utility function
importContants() to import the constants inside another module namespace,
to have more consise notations.
* Change: In cumulus/plugins/, in the various plugins sub-modules import
use the full path from plugins, that is, for example:
from plugins.core2chip.CoreToChip import IoPad
* Change: In Unicorn/python/unicornInit.py, no longer directly load the
plugins modules, this is now done by cumulus/plugins/__init__.py.
Instead, iterate through sys.modules for the ones starting by "plugins/"
and try to execute a Unicorn hook, if present.
* Change: In Karakaze/python/AnalogDesign.py, update for the new Instance.create()
prototype (added placement parameter).
* Change: In Hurricane::Error constructors disable the backtrace generation.
(*very* slow).
* Change: In Hurricane::Library::getHierarchicalname(), more compact
naming. Remove the name of the root library.
* New: In Hurricane::Net, new type "FUSED", for component with no net.
More efficient than having one net for each.
* Change: In CellViewer, BreakpointWidget, use Angry Birds icons.
* Change: In CellWidget::State, use the hierarchical name (cached) as key
to the state. This allow to load two cells with the same name but from
different libraries in the widget history.
* Change: In PyGraphics, export "isEnabled()" and "isHighDpi()" functions.
* Change: In CRL/etc/symbolic/cmos/plugin.conf, and
CRL/etc/common/plugin.conf use the physical dimensions converters.
* Change: In CRL/etc/symbolic/cmos/technology.conf, make the GDS layer
table coherent with the default Alliance cmos.rds.
* New: CRL/python/helpers/io.py, put ErrorMessage new implementation here,
along with a new ErrorWidget written in PyQt4. It seems finally that
PyQt4 can be used alongside Coriolis Qt widgets.
New ErrorMessage.catch() static function to manage all exceptions
in except clauses.
* Change: In CRL/python/helpers/, no longer use ErrorMessage.wrapPrint(),
directly print it.
Rewrite the utilities to display Python stack traces "textStacktrace()"
and "showStacktrace()".
* Change: In CRL::AllianceFramework, shorten the names of the libraries.
* Change: In CRL::ApParser & CRL::ApDriver, more accurate translation between
Alliance connectors (C record) and Hurricane::Pin objects. Pin are no
longer made square but thin and oriented in the connecting direction.
Use the new fused net for unnamed components.
* New: In CRL::GdsParser, implementation of SREF parsing, i.e. instances.
Due to the unordered nature of the GDS stream, instances creation are
delayed until the whole stream has been parsed and only then are they
created.
For the sake of reading back Alliance s2r GDS, we assume that any
TEXT following a boundary is the Net name the boundary (component)
belongs to.
Create abutment box for Cells, computed from the bounding box, so
the Hurricane QuadTree could work properly.
Make use of the fused net for unnamed components.
* New: In Cumulus/plugins/chip, complete rewrite of the I/O pad management.
Now we can mix real (foundry) pads and a symbolic core.
To cleanly support the de-coupling between the real part and the
symbolic one we introduce a new intermediary hierarchical level, the
corona. We have now:
Chip --> Pads + Corona --> Core.
At chip level (and if we are using real pads) the layout is fully
real (excepting the corona).
The Corona contains everything that is symbolic. It has symbolic
wires extending outward the abutment box to make contact with the
real wires coming from the pads.
In the pad ring we can use corners instances (or not), pad spacers
or directly draw wires between connectors ring pads.
Provide two flavors: placement only or full place & route.
WARNING: If routing in a second step, *do not route* the *Chip* but
the *Corona*.
* Change: In Cumulus/plugins/clocktree, give the modified Cell an
additional extension of "_cts" (Clock Tree Synthesis) instead of
"_clocked", to follow the common convention.
* New: In cumulus/plugins/S2R.py, encapsulate call to Alliance S2R and
reload the translated Cell in the editor.
* New: In cumulus/plugins/core2chip, provide an utility to automatically
create a chip from a core. To work this plugins must have a basic
understanding of the pad functionalities which may differs from
foundry to foundry. So a base class CoreToChip is created, then for
each supported pad foundry a derived class is added. Currently we
support AMS c35b4 and Alliance symbolic cmos.
* Bug: In Anabatic::Configuration, read the right configuration parameter
"anabatic.topRoutinglayer" (Katana), and not the one for Katabatic...
* Change: In Unicorn/cgt.py, process the plugins in alphabetical order
to ensure a reproductible ordering of the menus...
* Change: In boostrap, remove support for Chams.
* New: In Hurricane::Technology, added support for DTR rules, UnitRule,
PhysicalRule and TwoLayersPhysicalrule. Added devices descriptors and
models descriptors (for Spice). Spice description is not used yet
but kept anyway in case of future use.
* New: Hurricane::Analog whole library and it's Python interface. This
provides support for transistors, capacitors and resistors. Only
transistor support is fully implemented as of now.
* New: In CRL/python/coriolisInit.py, read configuration files for the
Analog extension (analog.conf & devices.conf). Thoses are optionals
and a simple warning is issued if not found.
Added helpers/AnalogTechno.py DTR loading helper.
Add analog configuration files for 180/scn6m_deep_09.
* New: Oroshi tool that provides actual layout drawing for transistors.
* Bug: In CRL/etc/NODE/VENDOR/Technology.conf, the database must be configured
as early has possible so the functions ensuring length conversions can
work correctly (l(v), u(v)). So we can no longer rely on a table to be
read after the execution of the file. We perform a direct call to the
helpers.Technology.initTechno() function. And it must be made first
thing.
In all tables taking dimensions, we must use one of the converter
function helpers.l(v), helpers.u(v) or helpers.n(v) so the the value v
get converted in lambda, microns or nanometer (resp.). Make the
modifications in all technology.conf and kite.conf files.
* Change: In CRL/coriolisInit.py, remove the technoConfig variable that has
been replaced by a direct call to helpers.Technology.initTechno().
* Change: In CRL/helpers.Alliance.loadRoutingGaugesTable(), no longer try to
convert coordinates, they must already be in DbU.
* Change: In CRL/helpers.__init__.py, remove lambdaMode() and micronsMode()
they could not be made to work as expected. Create l(), u(), n() as
replacement.
* New: Hurricane::Triange as been renamed into Hurricane::Polygon.
Add support for convex polygons. Polygon are approximateds by
excess by a manhattan rectilinear polygon (with potentially
thousands of vertexes). To reduce the memory footprint,
compaction techniques reducing by at least a factor 4 has been
implemented. We could go further by only storing the non-repetitive
part of the edge (defined by the integral fraction dY/dY).
We will see, if the program slows too much.
The manhattan approximate is always computed but displayed
only if the polygon grid step is greated than 4 pixels.
The level of approximation of the polygons can be controlled
through the "DbU::_polygonStep" parameter.
* Change: In CRL/coriolisInit.py and CRL/helpers/Technology.py, regroup
all DbU related parameters into "technoConfig" (i.e. suppress
"viewerConfig"). Update all the relevant technology.conf configuration
files.
Change the loader behavior so that "technoConfig" is read first
and is now responsible for creating the Technology of the DataBase.
* New: In Hurricane::CellWidget, added support for displaying mahanttanized
polygons.
* Change: In documenation/scripts/expample/polygons.py, perform (I hope)
a comprehensive test of the polygons (check all slopes, clockwise and
conter-clockwise).
* New: In Hurricane::DbU, added template to manage vector<> of DbU.
Support for the "polygonStep" parameter.
* Change: In Hurricane::Technology, in all the layer connexity methods
(getLayers(), getMetalAbove(), getCutAbove(), getViaBetween(), ...)
the "useWorking" parameter is replaced by a more accurate "useSymbolic".
BEHAVIOR CHANGE: formerly, if a symbolic layer was requested, and
none was found, NULL was returned. Now, if the symbolic layer is not
found, we try to return the associated real one (same layer mask,
but not flagged as symbolic, and usually with a lowercase name).
All thoses changes have been propagated to Python bindings.
* Change: In Hurricane::BasicLayer and derived classes, rename the
"isWorking" attribute into "isSymbolic" (to match the technology
renaming).
* Change: In Hurricane::Cell::flattenNets(), ignore power, ground and
blockage nets for the flatten.
* Change: In CRL Core, in coriolisInit.py and Technology.py helpers,
rename the tables describing the technology as follow:
- symbolicLayersTable --> compositeLayersTable
- workingLayersTable --> symbolicLayersTable
- symbolicRulesTable --> layersExtensionsTable
This is to give the table names a more clearer semantic after
merging real technologies configurations (testbench AMS c35b4).
In particular, we need to define a composite layer for the
real VIAs, and not only the symbolic ones. And with correct
enclosures expressed in real dimensions (microns).
* New: In CRL Core, AllianceFramework::getCell(), adds a new Catalog::State
flags to request the loading of a "foreign" cell. That is, a Cell which
is *not* in the Alliance libraries, but in *any* library starting from
the root library. This is a temporary hack to allow the Blif parser to
run.
* New: In CRL Core, RoutingGauge::getHorizontalGauge() and
RoutingGauge::getVerticalGauge() to avoid relying on either metal names
or depth to know the vertical and horizontal default routing
informations. They return the metal layers gauges *closests* to the
substrate which are likely to have the lesser pitch.
* New: In CRL Core, BlifParser, new configuration parameters:
"etesian.cell.zero" & "etesian.cell.one" to figure out what are the
tielow and tiehigh cells (instead of having the ones from sxlib
hardwired).
* New: In Etesian, add support for non-square routing pitchs, that is,
the lowest vertical and horizontal pitches are not equal. Needs to
work with two pitches (H & V) instead of one.
The Configuration associated class now also provides the
RoutingGauge (not only the CellGauge).
Use a new Configuration setting "etesian.feedNames" to set up
the names of the filler cells. This a string of comma separated
cell names.
* New: In Anabatic, Session::_getNearestGridPoint(), use the new
non-square grid scheme.
* Change: In CRL Core, in coriolis2/etc the file an directory structure
describing the technonolies is modified.
Before, one technology was split in two: the symbolic part that
may be shared across multiple real technology and the real technology
itself. To configure this we needed in ".coriolis2/techno.py" two
variables:
* symbolicTechnology.
* realTechnology.
After, we duplicate the symbolic technology in each real ones, so
to configure we only have to refer to one technology with the
variable:
* technology.
Pure sympolic technologies are still availables, associated with
a dummy real one.
We provides:
* 180/scn6m_deep_09 for MOSIS 180nm
* 45/freepdk_45 for FreePDK 45nm (work in progress).
* symbolic/cmos for classical Alliance symbolic.
* Change: In CRL Core python/helpers, SymbolicTechnology.py and
RealTechnology.py are now grouped under Technology.py.
* Bug: In CRL.python.coriolisInit(), when it's not set, the stratus1.mappingName
configuration variable is equal to "" and *not* "not_set".
* Bug: In Etesian::EtesianEngine::toColoquinte(), followup of the previous
bug, bad FIXED/PLACED test when the AB is set.
* Change: In Bootstrap, in coriolisEnv.py no longer sets the environment
variable STRATUS_MAPPING_NAME (guessed by init).
* Change: In CRL Core, in System CTOR sets the default value for
"stratus1.mappingName" to "not_set" so the init can known it is not
set.
In etc/coriolis2/*/stratus1.conf, do not set "stratus1.mappingName".
In coriolisInit.py, now guess the value of "stratus1.mappingName"
if it has not already been set by the user. The complete setting
process is as follow (decreasing priority):
1. Setup by the user in his ".coriolis2/setting.py".
2. A "stratus.xml" file is detected in the current technological
directory (example: etc/coriolis2/65/cmos065/setting.xml).
3. Fallback value to "etc/coriolis2/stratus2sxlib.xml".
* New: In Hurricane, In Net & Cell, support for Net aliases names.
Use a structure based on a simple ring of NetAliasHook. The Net
holds a global map, sorted by names of all the aliases of all Nets.
Elements NetAliasesHook of the map are slaves of ring whose master
is an attribute of the Net (it is *not* in the map, as the primary
name of the Net).
In case of merge, the aliases of both Nets are merged and the
name of the merged one become an alias.
The Cell::getNet() looks in both the Net map and the aliases to
find a Net by name.
* Bug: In CRL Core, in coriolisInit.py, reoder the loading of the
configuration files so the real technology is read as early as
possible to set up the <gridsPerLambda> factor before any lambda
is actually computed...
* Bug: In CRL Core, in AcmSigda, do not try to fed the file when it
has failed to be opened. Throw a clean exception instead.
* New: In CRL Core, in Toolbox, add a NamingScheme object to convert
a design into VHDL compliant names (mainly from Blif/Verilog).
This is extensible in any case.
* New: In CRL Core, in BlifParser, slightly more informative warning
messages. Align the loading progress information on the other
parsers.
Add a capability to select which component of the design will
be returned, if there are more than one. Use the "." as separator.
For exemple you can request "Processor.Alu", which will load
the "Alu" component from the design in "Processor.blif".
To be able to save a Blif loaded design, systematically convert
all the name for VHDL compliance, as it is the format used by
the Coriolis native files (vst).
Export the Blif parser to the Python interface.
* New: In Kite, In NegociateWindow, add a counter of the number of
remaining events. Gives an idea of the ETA...
* New: In Unicorn, in cgt.by, add an option to load a Blif design from
the command line.
* New: In Cumulus, new RSave plugin to save both netlist & layout.
Partly redundant with the previous one. Have to better organize
that later.
* Change: In CRL Core, simplify the loading sequence. The technology,
both symbolic and real is now loaded directly from coriolisInit.py
and not through the Alliance loader. This was a leftover from the
time configuration was in XML. Remove others traces of XML loading.
Remove SYMB_TECHNO_NAME, REAL_TECHNO_NAME & DISPLAY from the Alliance
environement, as they was no longer used.
Note that technology *still* need to be loader *after* Alliance
framework has been initialized.
Gauge information is moved from <alliance.conf> to <kite.conf>.
* Bug: In Coloquinte, in optimization_subproblems.cxx static variables
must not be inlined. Generate a problem when linking in debug mode
(seems the symbol gets optimised out).
* Bug: In Katabatic, in Grid::getGCell(), when the coordinate is *outside*
the area, do not try to find a GCell, directly return NULL.
* New: In Unicorn, create a generic command launcher named "coriolis" which
automatically take cares of all environement setup, then run a command
by default, it's <cgt>, but it can be anything. For example: <zsh>.
* New: In VLSISAPD, in Configuration, add a new priority level UserFile
to distinguish between the system configuration files and the user's
configuration files (which take precedence).
* New: In Hurricane, in Script (Python), improve the API to be able
to support Chams (and remove the duplicate capability from it).
Add separate functions to perform the initialize/run(s)/finalize
cycle step by step.
* Change: In CRL Core, rename real technology <hcmos9> to <hcmos9gp>,
it's offcial name from CMP/ST. This is the 130nm.
Move the reading of the symbolic & real technologies names from
coriolisInit.py to helpers.__init__.py, to be shared with
chamsInit.py.
To avoid a clash of names inside of helpers, the two variables
of techno.py are renamed "symbolicTechnology" and "realTechnology".
Move python init system from crlcore/src/crlcore to crlcore/python.
* New: In CRL Core, In Utilities, add site-packages/pharos to the
PYTHONPATH.
* Change: In Kite, move python init system from kite/src/init to
kite/python.
Jean-Paul Chaput