command interpreter Translators to read and write popular formats like Verilog, LEF, DEF and GDSII Falcon from Mentor Another significant design database is Falcon, from Mentor Graphics. This database was one of the first in the industry written in C++. Like Milkyway is for Synopsys, Falcon seems to be a stable and mature platform for Mentor’s IC products. Again, the implementation is not publicly available, so little can be said about its features or performance relative to other industry standards. Magma's database Magma Design Automation’s database is not just a disk format with an API, but is an entire system built around their DB as a central data structure. Again, since the details of the system are not publicly available, a direct comparison of features or performance is not possible. Looking at the capabilities of the Magma tools would indicate that this DB has a similar functionality to OpenAccess, and may be capable of representing behavioral (synthesis input) information. Major features of an EDA specific database An EDA specific database is expected to provide many basic constructs and services. Here is a brief and incomplete list of what is needed: Fundamental Features The Design (or Cell) as the Basic Unit Shapes and Physical Geometry Hierarchy Connectivity and Hierarchical Connectivity General Constructs API Forms Utility Layer Advanced Features Parameterized Designs Namespaces and Name Mapping Place-and-Route Constructs Timing and Parasitic Constructs Occurrence Models and Logical/Physical Mapping Interface to Configuration management Extensibility Technology Data Layer Definitions Design Rules Generation and extraction rules for simple devices Library Data and Structures: Design-Data Management Library Organization: From Designs to Disk Files Design-Data Management Interoperability Models References Electronic Design Automation For Integrated Circuits Handbook, by Lavagno, Martin, and Scheffer, A survey of the field. This article was derived (with permission) from Volume 2, Chapter 12, Design Databases, author Mark Bales. Electronic design automation Integrated circuits Types of databases