On the Feasibility of Synthesizing CAD Software from Specifications: Generating Maze Router Tools in ELF

Dorothy E. Setliff, Rob A. Rutenbar

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This paper describes how program synthesis techniques can be applied to the generation of technology sensitive VLSI physical design tools. We describe ELF, a program syn-. thesis architecture targeted at the generation of maze routing software. ELF strives to meet the demands of the target technology by automatically generating maze router implementations to match the application requirements. ELF has three key features. First, a very high level language, lacking data structure implementation specifications, is used to describe algorithm design styles. Second, application specific expertise about routing and application independent code synthesis techniques are used to guide search among alternative design styles for algorithms and data structures. Third, code generation is used to transform the resulting abstract descriptions of selected algorithms and data structures into final, executable code. Code generation is an incremental, stepwise refinement process. Experimental results are presented covering several correct, fully functional routers synthesized by ELF from varying high level specifications. Results from synthetic and industrial benchmarks are examined to illustrate ELF’s capabilities.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)783-801
Number of pages19
JournalIEEE Transactions on Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems
Volume10
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1991
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Software
  • Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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