Training Insights – Why Is RTL Translated into Gate-Level Netlist?

Have you ever wondered how those tiny chips in your phone or computer actually work? It all starts with a conversation, but not in the way you might think. Here, the conversation isn't between humans but between engineers and the chips themselves. But there's a catch—they don't speak the same language!

Imagine describing a dream house—the layout, the features, the overall feel. That's similar to how engineers use a language called register-transfer level (RTL) to describe a chip's desired functionality. It's a high-level conversation focusing on what the chip should do, not how it will do it.

The Need for Translating RTL into Gate-Level Netlist

Now, imagine translating that dream house description into actual construction plans. Bricklayers and electricians need a detailed blueprint specifying the exact placement of walls, wires, and plumbing. This is where the gate-level netlist comes in—it acts as the chip whisperer, translating the high-level RTL description into a language the "construction crew" understands.

Ultimately, the RTL needs to be transferred to the gate-level netlist to create the layout for an integrated circuit using the ASIC flow, popularly called the RTL-to-GDSII flow. The stages and detailed concepts involved in all ten stages of the flow are shown and explained in the Cadence RTL-to-GDSII online course, which covers the complete flow in detail, including the labs for each stage of the flow. Recently, this course, Cadence RTL-to-GDSII v6.0, has been updated to the latest version, 6.0, with new features.

What's New in the Latest RTL-to-GDSII v6.0 Online Course?

The latest version of the Cadence RTL-to-GDSII v6.0 course now includes sections on:

• Verisium Manager Concepts
• Design Verification Concepts
• How to choose the suitable buffer to fix timing 

Want to Learn More?

It’s easy to register for the Online Training:

1. Log on to cadence.com with your registered Cadence ID and password.
2. Select Learning from the menu > Online Courses.
3. Search for Cadence_RTL-to-GDSII_Flow 6_0 using the search bar.
4. Select the course and click the Enroll

The Cadence RTL-to-GDSII Flow training is also available as both "Blended" and "Live" Please reach out to Cadence Training for further information.

And don't forget to obtain your Digital Badge after completing the training!

Related Resources

 Online Courses

• Cadence RTL-to-GDSII Flow v6.0
• Virtuoso Digital Implementation Training

 Blog Posts     

• Training Bytes: They May Be Shorter, But the Impact Is Stronger!
• RTL-to-GDSII Flow: I Am Not a Tool, but I Can Help You Implement Your Entire Design!
• Training Insights – RTL-to-GDSII Lab: Just One Click to Increase Your Confidence in Handling Tools!

 Training Byte Videos

• Demo: Creating Power Rings, Power Stripes, and Power Rails Using PSDL Script in Innovus
• How to Route a Design and Perform RC Extraction and Timing Analysis in Innovus
• How to Run Placement Optimization in the Innovus Implementation System?
• How to Run the Synthesis Without DFT?
• How to Run the Synthesis Flow with DFT?
• Creating Power Rings, Power Stripes, and Power Rails in the Innovus Implementation System
• How to Run Power Analysis and Analyze the Results in Innovus?