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Xschem is a schematic capture program, it allows to create a hierarchical representation of circuits with a top down approach . By focusing on interconnections, hierarchy and properties a complex system (IC) can be described in terms of simpler building blocks. A VHDL, Verilog or Spice netlist can be generated from the drawn schematic, allowing the simulation of the circuit. Key feature of the program is its drawing engine written in C and using directly the Xlib drawing primitives; this gives top speed performance, even on very big circuits. I have succesfully managed to simulate complete VLSI projects with this tool, both digital (Verilog / VHDL) and analog (Spice).
Schematics can be printed in SVG, PNG, PDF, formats. XSCHEM runs on Linux or other Unix-likes with Xorg server and on Windows with the Cygwin layer and required tools installed.
Can be found also on github: https://github.com/StefanSchippers/xschem
Features
- VHDL Verilog Spice
- EDA, Electronic Design Automation
- Schematic capture
- IC design
- Simulation
- HDL
- SPICE
Project Samples
Categories
Electronic Design Automation (EDA)License
GNU General Public License version 3.0 (GPLv3)Follow XSCHEM
User Reviews
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Best schematic editor among open source schematic editors (and better many commercial ones), the flexibility and speed of interface/graphic are incredible. Support is fast and precise, author responds very fast to bug reports and features requests. There is a learning curve, but it is a price for flexibility. Feature of displaying result waveforms allows to avoid any external waveform viewer, especially it's ability to view mixed signals in one windows, side by side.
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It's a couple of months I'm using xschem for the development of standard cells and embedded SRAMs and everything looks fine. The tool is clearly conceived making leverage on a deep experience as a semiconductor designer (netlist generation is very fast) and the connection with ngspice and most common waveform displayers is smooth. In combination with klayout Xschem becomes a very powerful system for both analog and digital design. I strongly recommend Xschem also for more complex design.
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If you're a Cadence user this schematic editor will feel pretty natural, right down to the bindkeys (not 100% 1:1, but pretty close). Symbol creation is easy and netlisting very configurable (if you like). SPICE netlisting works. The "learning curve" is about as light as it gets (unlike other tools like XCircuit, which is capable but requires you to unlearn all of your mouse and keyboard habits). I am using Xschem, ngspice and klayout to do professional analog IC design. Xschem slowed me down not one bit, from a cold start, and lets me do what I need to do without a lot of distractions. The developer has been very responsive about tricks, tweaks and "huh?".