Which inputs must a physical-design engineer verify at this gate?
From PDVerse PnR Interview Handbook · pdVerse Mentor Guide
Short Answer
Verify the synthesised gate-level netlist, SDC, top name, handoff revision, logical libraries, reference/technology setup, modes, corners, scenarios, and available synthesis or STA summaries.
Technical Explanation
Treat this as a readiness check. It should produce named objects and a result that another engineer can repeat from the same handoff.
What To Check
• Warning sign: Files come from different revisions and still parse individually. • Inspect: Start with one named object in the report and trace it to the netlist, library, or SDC statement that created it. • Correct: Reconcile the manifest with the producing teams and replace the inconsistent bundle as a unit.
Command Checks & Actions
• current_block: confirms the active design block
• report_ref_libs: shows the reference libraries used for linking
• report_scenarios: shows the MCMM scenario matrix and analysis status
Run the commands in order. Each line answers a separate part of the check.Healthy, Suspicious & Hard-stop Results
• Expected: Verify the synthesised gate-level netlist, SDC, top name, handoff revision, logical libraries, reference/technology setup, modes, corners, scenarios, and available synthesis or STA summaries. • Investigate: Files come from different revisions and still parse individually. • Stop before floorplanning when required logic or timing coverage is missing or unexplained. Reconcile the manifest with the producing teams and replace the inconsistent bundle as a unit.
Common Mistake
Do not assume the check passed just because ICC2 continued: Files come from different revisions and still parse individually. Fix or narrowly justify the named objects, then rerun the same command.
What The Interviewer Is Testing
Be ready to explain why this matters before floorplanning: Files come from different revisions and still parse individually.
Practical Example
Symptom: Files come from different revisions and still parse individually. Corrective path: Reconcile the manifest with the producing teams and replace the inconsistent bundle as a unit.
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