Timing ECO suggestions: buffer insertion and cell resizing #16
Description
Summary
Automatically suggest timing fixes for violating paths: insert buffers, resize cells, or swap Vt flavors.
Current State
GEM reports violations but offers no fix suggestions. Engineers must manually analyze critical paths and determine corrections.
Proposed Approach
- For setup violations: suggest cell upsizing (faster drive) or buffer insertion to split long wires
- For hold violations: suggest buffer insertion to add delay
- Rank suggestions by impact/cost ratio
- Output suggested changes as a script (e.g., OpenROAD TCL commands)
- Would need Liberty data with multiple drive strengths and Vt options
Impact
Medium — very useful for design closure workflow.
Effort
High — requires understanding cell library alternatives, physical constraints, and generating actionable fixes.