ClearCase brings SCM/DM Capabilities to EDA World – with Cadence Virtuoso Integration

ClearCase has proven its mettle as advanced software configuration management solution for many years now. With Rational ClearCase - Cadence Virtuoso Integration, ClearCase brings its enterprise configuration management capabilities to analog or mixed signal designers. This integration enables   designers to take advantage of core capabilities of ClearCase, without leaving their familiar design environment. This integration allows custom chip designers to complete ClearCase actions from within Cadence Virtuoso.

• ​Salient Features:

ClearCase Cadence integration offers advanced set of capabilities which makes it right fit of IC designers.

Figure 1 : Integration Capabilities

• Instant Workspace Creation

With Dynamic views, irrespective of size of design libraries (running into GBs), designers can create their workspaces based on a desired configuration instantaneously. No client side downloading of content is needed.

• Rich Graphical & Command-line support

Integration supports all prominent design management use cases from Cadence Virtuoso’ graphical interfaces i.e. Library Manager, Cell View Editors. Integration does provide a dedicated command-line interface as well for all major design management operations.

• Library Manager:

Figure 2: DM Operations via Context Menu’s in LM

• Cell View Editors:

Figure 3: DM Operations via CVE

• Command Line

Figure 4: Command Line Interface

• Interactive Graphical Schematic Diff

Schematic diff tool enables designers to graphically browse-through and review changes made across versions of the same schematic design. This tool will provide means to the designers to navigate through any addition, deletion or modification which may have taken place between the schematic versions being compared. During the navigation, the tool will also highlight the deltas on the schematic editor in case they happen to be part of any visible design component.

Figure 5: Graphical Schematic Diff

• Hierarchical Design Management

The Hierarchy Manager GUI provides a powerful mechanism for examining and traversing a design hierarchy. On the specification tab, designer can specify various descent controls supported with advanced filtering capability. Cellviews Tab shows the corresponding results on which designer can perform various DM operations. 

Figure 6: Hierarchy Manager

• ClearCase WorkArea Manager (WAM)

The ClearCase Work Area Manager is one of the key highlights of this integration. It offers the designers an interface to perform advance design management operations besides presenting additional ClearCase-specific information for designs including their mastership.

Figure 7: WorkArea Manager

• Hardware and Software Co-development

ClearCase as an enterprise level source and design management solution, helps software/firmware developers and chip designers to enjoy server class security of SW and HW artifacts, maintain history, share components / artifacts across a local and/or distributed team and adhere to a common process management put by the organization in place. Common tooling thus ensures common training for SW and HW teams and thus reduces administration costs.

Will this solution help you and your organization?

• Do you have a robust enterprise level Design Management solution in place?
• Does your current Design Management solution enables designers to create designer’s workspace based on a specific configuration instantaneously?
• Does your current Design Management solution support co-development of Hardware & FirmWare, common labelling across components, adhere to a common process and provide fine-grained access control across SW/Firmware and HW teams?

​If not, ClearCase - Cadence Virtuoso Integration can help you and your organization fill in these/such gaps.

​Please add your thoughts and questions below, or email me: manish-v@hcl.com.
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Manish Virmani
Senior Engineering Manager
ClearCase Development
manish-v@hcl.com