--- page_id: curated-signoff type: context-page schema_version: 1 template_id: curated-knowledge template_version: template-0.1.0 title: Precheck and Signoff slug: curated-signoff route: /submission-procedures/precheck-and-signoff section: reference access: public summary: What recorded DRC, precheck, and CoB checks prove, with policy conflicts preserved. status: published asset_base: . home_href: / md_url: /submission-procedures/precheck-and-signoff.md toc_enabled: true talk_enabled: false agent_view_enabled: true copy_buttons_enabled: true footer_enabled: true search_indexed: true tags: [wafer-space, knowledge-base, curated] last_updated: 2026-08-19 talk_url: /submission-procedures/precheck-and-signoff.talk.md talk_route: /submission-procedures/precheck-and-signoff/talk --- # Precheck and Signoff ## Scope This page states what the recorded checkers meant and what a pass did or did not prove. The ordered upload, retry, and final-submit procedure belongs on [Submission Procedures](/submission-procedures). ## Checker meaning - **Confirmed fact — 2025-11-03:** Precheck was described as running Magic and KLayout DRC, off-grid and angle checks, density checks, and layout-specific checks. It was also intended to replace the included QR-code cell with the correct design ID. [Evidence](/evidence/i-information/questions/threads/release-checklist#message-1434849326584037460) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1434837450735353896/1434849326584037460)) - **Confirmed fact — 2025-11-28:** The online platform ran `gf180mcu-precheck`, including smaller checks plus KLayout and Magic DRC. [Evidence](/evidence/i-information/general/threads/test-submission-platform-issues-successes#message-1443909361427681351) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1443758028393414818/1443909361427681351)) - **Decision — 2026-03-27:** Passing DRC was stated to be strictly required for tapeout. There was no DRC waiver system. [Evidence](/evidence/i-information/questions/threads/is-there-a-drc-violation-waiver-system#message-1486979241148158012) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1486057912555012167/1486979241148158012)) - **Decision with narrow scope — 2025-12-14:** Magic DRC became non-blocking because imported non-Magic layouts could give false positives. Users were still told to inspect every Magic violation and report any real problem not found by KLayout. [Evidence](/evidence/designing/project-template#message-1449816127919100115) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1423348662318272592/1449816127919100115)) - **Confirmed decision — 2026-03-16:** KLayout was the trusted tapeout DRC result; Magic DRC was not required because it could report false positives. [Evidence](/evidence/designing/project-template/threads/chore-update-to-librelane-dev-55-w#message-1483013259635327016) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1482918666042347791/1483013259635327016)) ## Conflict resolved “Magic DRC is non-blocking” does not mean “DRC is optional.” The first statement applies to one checker whose import path could give false positives. The 2026-03-16 guidance assigns tapeout DRC authority to KLayout, while the 2026-03-27 decision says overall DRC pass is mandatory and cannot be waived. Record the checker, deck, version, and exact violation when interpreting a result. [Magic decision](/evidence/designing/project-template#message-1449816127919100115) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1423348662318272592/1449816127919100115)) [KLayout decision](/evidence/designing/project-template/threads/chore-update-to-librelane-dev-55-w#message-1483013259635327016) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1482918666042347791/1483013259635327016)) [No-waiver decision](/evidence/i-information/questions/threads/is-there-a-drc-violation-waiver-system#message-1486979241148158012) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1486057912555012167/1486979241148158012)) ## CoB checks - **Confirmed fact — 2026-06-18:** Precheck 1.7.0 added a comparison between CoB pad positions and a golden mask. Template 1.5.3 fixed a 0.5 um north/south pad offset. [Evidence](/evidence/designing/project-template#message-1517130928248586290) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1423348662318272592/1517130928248586290)) - **Confirmed statement — 2026-08-13, live-search capture:** The precheck was said to enforce CoB pad coordinates and DRC-clean layout. No canonical Discord URL was captured for this search result. [Evidence](/evidence/live-delta/designing/analog#message-1537441624102141982) ## What a pass does not prove - A pass from one checker does not prove that another checker has no findings. The recorded policy kept manual review of Magic findings even when Magic was non-blocking. [Evidence](/evidence/designing/project-template#message-1449816127919100115) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1423348662318272592/1449816127919100115)) - A historical precheck pass does not prove that a current submission uses the same decks, PDK, image, or platform logic. The online checker set is dated 2025-11-28, while the template and precheck changed in June 2026. [Old platform evidence](/evidence/i-information/general/threads/test-submission-platform-issues-successes#message-1443909361427681351) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1443758028393414818/1443909361427681351)) [New precheck evidence](/evidence/designing/project-template#message-1517130928248586290) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1423348662318272592/1517130928248586290)) ## Proposals and open questions - **Proposal, not confirmed:** On 2025-11-28 an admin precheck override was promised during test-platform work. The archive does not prove that it became production policy. It does not override the later no-waiver decision. [Evidence](/evidence/i-information/general/threads/test-submission-platform-issues-successes#message-1444092802379288697) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1443758028393414818/1444092802379288697)) - **Open question:** The current authoritative deck versions and current online checker set must be checked on the live submission system before a run-specific signoff statement is published. The archive shows that checker behavior changed over time. [Evidence](/evidence/designing/project-template#message-1517130928248586290) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1423348662318272592/1517130928248586290)) ## Related pages - [Submission Procedures](/submission-procedures) - [Digital Design](/digital-design) - [DRC and LVS](/troubleshooting/drc-and-lvs) - [Version Management](/librelane-and-tooling/version-management) - [Analog Layout, Verification, and PEX](/analog-design/layout-verification-and-pex) - [CoB Pad Frame and Precheck](/packaging-and-cob/pad-frame-and-precheck) ## Sources - `1434849326584037460` — 2025-11-03T10:18:57.669+00:00 — Leo Moser (mole99) (@mole99) — intended precheck coverage and project-ID handling. [Evidence](/evidence/i-information/questions/threads/release-checklist#message-1434849326584037460) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1434837450735353896/1434849326584037460)) - `1443909361427681351` — 2025-11-28T10:20:18.303+00:00 — Leo Moser (mole99) (@mole99) — online `gf180mcu-precheck` checker set. [Evidence](/evidence/i-information/general/threads/test-submission-platform-issues-successes#message-1443909361427681351) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1443758028393414818/1443909361427681351)) - `1449816127919100115` — 2025-12-14T17:31:41.177+00:00 — Leo Moser (mole99) (@mole99) — Magic DRC non-blocking decision and review duty. [Evidence](/evidence/designing/project-template#message-1449816127919100115) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1423348662318272592/1449816127919100115)) - `1483013259635327016` — 2026-03-16T08:05:14.151+00:00 — Leo Moser (mole99) (@mole99) — KLayout tapeout authority and Magic DRC boundary. [Evidence](/evidence/designing/project-template/threads/chore-update-to-librelane-dev-55-w#message-1483013259635327016) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1482918666042347791/1483013259635327016)) - `1486979241148158012` — 2026-03-27T06:44:37.828+00:00 — Tim 'mithro' Ansell (@mithro_) — strict DRC requirement and no waiver. [Evidence](/evidence/i-information/questions/threads/is-there-a-drc-violation-waiver-system#message-1486979241148158012) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1486057912555012167/1486979241148158012)) - `1517130928248586290` — 2026-06-18T11:36:40.224+00:00 — Leo Moser (mole99) (@mole99) — CoB offset and golden-mask checks. [Evidence](/evidence/designing/project-template#message-1517130928248586290) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1423348662318272592/1517130928248586290)) - `1537441624102141982` — 2026-08-13T12:44:07.470Z — Leo Moser (mole99) — CoB coordinate and DRC statement. Live-search capture; canonical Discord URL unavailable. [Evidence](/evidence/live-delta/designing/analog#message-1537441624102141982) - `1444092802379288697` — 2025-11-28T22:29:14.034+00:00 — Tim 'mithro' Ansell (@mithro_) — proposed admin override. [Evidence](/evidence/i-information/general/threads/test-submission-platform-issues-successes#message-1444092802379288697) ([Discord](https://discord.com/channels/1361349522684510449/1443758028393414818/1444092802379288697))