magic-8.3.664

Magic is an interactive system for creating and modifying VLSI circuit layouts. It is used to design basic cells and to combine them hierarchically into large structures. Magic understands quite a bit about the nature of circuits. It has built-in knowledge of layout rules; during editing, it continuously checks for rule violations. Magic also knows about connectivity and transistors, and contains a built-in hierarchical circuit extractor. It has a plow operation that permits to stretch or compact cells. Lastly, Magic has routing tools to make the circuit interconnections. Magic is based on the Mead-Conway style of design: it uses simplified design rules and circuit structures that make it easier layout drawing and permit Magic to provide powerful assistance, at the cost of slightly less dense circuits.