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Thread: Cadence PDK?

17 Discord messages from ℹ️ - Information/⁉️-questions/threads/cadence-pdk.md.

Category: ℹ️ - Information Parent channel: #⁉️-questions Thread ID: 1486374138074628187

Messages: 17

message-1486374138074628187

2026-03-25T14:40:10.013+00:00 — chasak (@chaask)

Content

Does the wafer.space GF180 PDK have a Virtuoso compatible version. I am trying to do some analog design work, and i am comfortable inside Virtuoso. So just wondering, if we have that option.
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message-1486411656883081317

2026-03-25T17:09:15.194+00:00 — nmz787

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I haven't seen any
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message-1486411699102814439

2026-03-25T17:09:25.26+00:00 — nmz787

Content

the only DRC seems to be klayout
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message-1486416824823316624

2026-03-25T17:29:47.327+00:00 — tnt (@246tnt)

Content

Wouldn't that be distributed by Cadence directly ?
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message-1486416927747473601

2026-03-25T17:30:11.866+00:00 — tnt (@246tnt)

Content

I know for sky130 open pdk, Cadence is the one ditributing the matching PDK.
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message-1486416983711940710

2026-03-25T17:30:25.209+00:00 — tnt (@246tnt)

Content

It's still subject to NDA and such so no-one else can distribute it ...
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message-1486448972431233097

2026-03-25T19:37:31.914+00:00 — chasak (@chaask)

Content

I dont think cadence version is opensource. but generally mpw vendors or the foundry supply the closed source pdk under nda. is that possible with us.
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message-1486449299838599180

2026-03-25T19:38:49.974+00:00 — chasak (@chaask)

Content

will our mpw partner also be able do that @Tim 'mithro' Ansell .
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message-1486450491473920052

2026-03-25T19:43:34.082+00:00 — Tim 'mithro' Ansell (@mithro_)

Content

wafer.space doesn't care how you create the GDS but we don't supply access to any proprietary PDKs.

Your GDS also needs to be 100% clean by the wafer.space platform, not whatever the cadence or any proprietary PDK says.

Wafer.space also does not support waivers from customers.
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message-1486451186159849562

2026-03-25T19:46:19.708+00:00 — Tim 'mithro' Ansell (@mithro_)

Content

Some people have access to a mostly compatible Cadence PDK through agreements with other entities and have successfully taped out.

As well, GF will *not* respond to requests for the PDK without other relationships with them already.
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message-1486451330867400744

2026-03-25T19:46:54.209+00:00 — chasak (@chaask)

Content

thanks tim.
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message-1486451472248999956

2026-03-25T19:47:27.917+00:00 — Tim 'mithro' Ansell (@mithro_)

Content

I'm unclear if Cadence tooling is able to load the open source file formats. They are old enough / simple enough they might work with a bit of work.
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message-1486452022411792605

2026-03-25T19:49:39.086+00:00 — Tim 'mithro' Ansell (@mithro_)

Content

Btw wafer.space also doesn't provide any direct support for tooling - open or closed.

If you need technical help in creating designs (with whatever tooling), the design help page has a number of companies willing to provide paid support services.

Reactions

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message-1486466886802604186

2026-03-25T20:48:43.033+00:00 — nmz787

Reply/reference

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Content

my experience also is that the foundry provides the PDK, with support for any tools they expect users will want. I have never heard of tool vendors supplying a foundry PDK component
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message-1486467106257109062

2026-03-25T20:49:35.355+00:00 — nmz787

Reply/reference

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Content

for something like DRC, I don't think this is possible without some translator which surely Cadence/Synopsys isn't making for working with klayout
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message-1486467181792202774

2026-03-25T20:49:53.364+00:00 — nmz787

Content

OASIS and GDS are industry standards, so of course closed-source tools support them
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message-1486467406745436381

2026-03-25T20:50:46.997+00:00 — nmz787

Content

APR techfiles are mostly ASCII with grid definitions (pitches, CDs, spaces) so a translator is likely easier to code (I suppose even for AI)
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