Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This article aims to synthesize the current ecosystem of open-source tools for Integrated Circuit (IC) design, covering the entire digital design flow from Register-Transfer Level (RTL) description to fabricable layouts. The survey categorizes and analyzes tools across major stages of design, including code-generation tools, logic synthesis, simulation, and physical design flow. Special emphasis is given to the fabricable open-source Process Design Kit (PDK), which enables the physical realization of open-hardware projects. By examining interoperability, limitations, and maturity across this toolchain, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the Electronic Design Automation (EDA) landscape and identifies the research and educational opportunities that arise from democratizing silicon design through open and reproducible workflows.
Source: Electronics
Author: Emilio Isaac Baungarten-Leon
Institution: Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W7133329547