Cadence SKILL scripting services for Virtuoso automation

SkyCadEda provides professional Cadence SKILL programming services for custom IC design teams. From layout automation and PCell development to custom GUIs and simulation flow scripting, we write production-grade SKILL code that integrates with Virtuoso and the broader Cadence tool ecosystem.

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Scope

Engineering scope

Built around your existing methodology.

  1. Layout automation and productivity tools

    Custom SKILL routines for automated layout generation, cell manipulation, constraint-driven editing, and batch processing. Reduce manual layout effort with parametric automation scripts tailored to your design methodology.

  2. PCell and PCellXL development

    Parameterized cell development in SKILL and PCellXL for automated layout generation. Custom PCells for analog, mixed-signal, RF, and standard cell designs with full DRC compliance and foundry compatibility.

  3. CDF callbacks and device configuration

    Custom CDF callbacks for device parameterization, netlisting, simulation integration, and design rule validation. Ensure correct-by-construction device configuration across your design flow.

  4. Custom GUIs and application frameworks

    Virtuoso GUI extensions using SKILL and Qt integration. Custom forms, toolbars, menu extensions, and interactive design tools that improve designer productivity and enforce methodology compliance.

Outcomes

What you get

A deployment-ready result, handed over to your team.

  • Significant reduction in manual layout and schematic tasks.
  • Consistent design methodology enforcement through automation.
  • Faster design iterations with parametric PCells and batch utilities.
  • Reduced onboarding time for new design team members.

Production-grade SKILL code for custom IC teams

Cadence SKILL is the native extension language of Virtuoso, with direct access to the design database, the layout and schematic editors, CDF and the simulation environment. Teams use it to automate repetitive edits, enforce methodology checks, and reuse proven design structures across projects. SkyCadEda's SKILL scripting services deliver production-quality code that integrates into your existing Virtuoso environment.

Our SKILL engineers have deep expertise in the Virtuoso database model, layout editing APIs, schematic access, CDF framework, and simulation integration. We write clean, documented, version-portable code that your CAD team can maintain and extend.

Common SKILL automation use cases

Layout generators for repetitive structures (arrays, matching patterns, guard rings), automated DRC-clean cell assembly, constraint-driven placement and routing utilities, batch parameter sweeps for simulation, interactive layout editing tools with custom bindkeys, design review and annotation utilities, and netlist post-processing for simulation setup.

Cross-platform scripting

For teams using both Cadence and Synopsys environments, we provide cross-platform automation using SKILL, Tcl/Tk, and Python. This includes unified scripting interfaces, tool-agnostic data exchange utilities, and automation that bridges Virtuoso and Custom Compiler workflows.

met1_straps.ilVirtuoso CIW
; Four met1 straps: 0.14 um wide, 0.48 um pitch
let((cv x)
  cv = geGetEditCellView()
  foreach(i '(0 1 2 3)
    x = i * 0.48
    dbCreateRect(cv list("met1" "drawing")
      list(list(x 0.0) list(x + 0.14 2.72)))
  )
  dbSave(cv)
)
Fig. 1 SKILL: geometry written straight into the open cellview

FAQ

Questions before engagement

What is Cadence SKILL programming?

SKILL is the scripting language built into Cadence EDA tools, primarily Virtuoso. It allows engineers to automate design tasks, create custom tools, extend the Virtuoso interface, and build parameterized cells (PCells). SKILL is based on Lisp and provides deep access to Virtuoso database objects, layout editing, schematic capture, and simulation environments.

What types of SKILL automation do you build?

We build a wide range of SKILL tools: layout generators and automation scripts, PCells and PCellXL components, CDF callbacks and device configuration, custom Virtuoso GUI extensions, batch processing utilities, design rule check scripts, netlisting and simulation flow automation, and interactive design aids for analog/mixed-signal layout.

Do you support both SKILL and PCellXL?

Yes. We write traditional SKILL PCells as well as PCellXL (the newer, compiled PCell format in Virtuoso). PCellXL offers better performance for complex parameterized cells and is recommended for production PDK development.

Can SKILL scripts work across different Virtuoso versions?

We write version-aware SKILL code that works across Virtuoso IC23, IC25, and Studio environments. We handle API differences, deprecated functions, and version-specific behaviors to ensure portability.

Do you also do Synopsys Tcl/Tk scripting?

Yes. While SKILL is our primary focus for Cadence tools, we also provide Tcl/Tk and Python scripting for Synopsys Custom Compiler, ICC2, and other Synopsys platforms. We can build cross-tool automation that bridges Cadence and Synopsys environments.

Related

Next step

Discuss your project

Tell us which tools, PDK and schedule you are working with, and we will scope the work with you.

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