Handoff
A clean handoff gives physical design a consistent netlist, constraints, libraries, and reports.
Handoff quality is proven by reproducibility and checks, not merely by successful file generation.
The handoff manifest should identify the exact RTL tag, liberty set, SDC revision, tool version, and compile mode.
Logic Synthesis flow
Follow each stage in sequence. Every stage produces information needed by the next.
Handoff—visualized
This technical view uses the actual structures and relationships associated with this stage, followed by its key terms.
Understand every concept
QoR reports
What it is: QoR reports is a core concept within Handoff. It describes the information, structure, or analysis engineers use at this stage of the Logic Synthesis flow.
Why it matters: Understanding it helps you interpret the stage correctly, avoid incorrect assumptions, and connect the result to the next implementation or signoff step.
Where it fits: This topic belongs to module 4, Handoff, and its output supports the stages that follow.
Practical example: Engineer workflow: Write the mapped netlist and final constraints. The handoff manifest should identify the exact RTL tag, liberty set, SDC revision, tool version, and compile mode.
Netlist checks
What it is: Netlist checks is a core concept within Handoff. It describes the information, structure, or analysis engineers use at this stage of the Logic Synthesis flow.
Why it matters: Understanding it helps you interpret the stage correctly, avoid incorrect assumptions, and connect the result to the next implementation or signoff step.
Where it fits: This topic belongs to module 4, Handoff, and its output supports the stages that follow.
Practical example: Engineer workflow: Generate timing, area, power, and check reports. The handoff manifest should identify the exact RTL tag, liberty set, SDC revision, tool version, and compile mode.
Equivalence concepts
What it is: Equivalence concepts is a core concept within Handoff. It describes the information, structure, or analysis engineers use at this stage of the Logic Synthesis flow.
Why it matters: Understanding it helps you interpret the stage correctly, avoid incorrect assumptions, and connect the result to the next implementation or signoff step.
Where it fits: This topic belongs to module 4, Handoff, and its output supports the stages that follow.
Practical example: Engineer workflow: Run equivalence or formal consistency checks. The handoff manifest should identify the exact RTL tag, liberty set, SDC revision, tool version, and compile mode.
Work through it step by step
- 1
QoR reports
Write the mapped netlist and final constraints.
- 2
Netlist checks
Generate timing, area, power, and check reports.
- 3
Equivalence concepts
Run equivalence or formal consistency checks.
- 4
QoR reports
Record versions, corners, warnings, and known limitations.
Explore each topic
01QoR reports
Understand the concept, connect it to the ASIC flow, study the report or behavior it produces, and apply it in a guided exercise. Check the result against the module goal before moving forward.
02Netlist checks
Understand the concept, connect it to the ASIC flow, study the report or behavior it produces, and apply it in a guided exercise. Check the result against the module goal before moving forward.
03Equivalence concepts
Understand the concept, connect it to the ASIC flow, study the report or behavior it produces, and apply it in a guided exercise. Check the result against the module goal before moving forward.
Completion checklist
- ✓ Netlist has no unresolved cells
- ✓ Constraints match reported timing
- ✓ Equivalence passes
- ✓ Manifest and reports are archived
Practise with open-source tools
These are official third-party GitHub projects selected for this learning path.