Synopsys Design Compiler Tutorial 2021

# Maximum fanout for a cell (prevents heavy loading) set_max_fanout 4 [current_design]

Synopsys Design Compiler (DC) is the industry-standard tool for logic synthesis, converting Register-Transfer Level (RTL) code into a technology-specific gate-level netlist. This 2021 tutorial outlines the essential flow for high-performance digital designs using dc_shell or the Design Vision GUI . 1. Preparation and Environment Setup

: This traditional mode uses statistical models to estimate interconnect delays based on gate fanout and design size. It is less accurate for sub-micron designs. synopsys design compiler tutorial 2021

Constraints guide the optimization process by defining timing and physical limits.

dc_shell> compile_ultra -timing_high_effort -area_high_effort # Maximum fanout for a cell (prevents heavy

A minimal .synopsys_dc.setup file might look like this:

set_input_delay -clock clk -max 3.0 [get_ports data_in*] set_input_delay -clock clk -min 1.0 [get_ports data_in*] Preparation and Environment Setup : This traditional mode

: The Graphical User Interface (GUI). Beginners often start here to visualize the schematic and timing paths. 3. The Core Synthesis Flow

| Action | Command | |--------|---------| | Check design | check_design | | Show clock | report_clock | | Reset design | remove_design -all | | Change naming rule | define_name_rules ... | | Ungroup hierarchies | ungroup -flatten -all | | Set max area | set_max_area 0 | | Set max fanout | set_max_fanout 20 [current_design] |

# 5. Compile compile_ultra