An automated framework and methodology for the development, testing, validation,
and documentation of the design of semiconductor products that culminates in the
release of a design kit having a flow manager and flow file to actualize a methodology
to design a semiconductor product. The flow framework and methodology receives
a methodology and a technology description for the semiconductor product. Then
the flow framework and methodology coordinates and tests flow files developed by
flow developers using testcases from testcase developers, libraries from library
developers and tools from tool from flow developers that may be constantly updated.
When a flow file, a testcase, a library, and/or a tool is updated, added, or otherwise
changed, ongoing regression testing is accomplished to update the correct flow
file. The flow framework and methodology creates a sequence of flows to design
the semiconductor product, and each flow, when properly executed, results in a
set of deliverables that are input to the next flow. The flows include not only
the evolution of the design from a high-level behavioral description to a physical
implementation, but also the verification of the specified functions and of manufacturability.
Delivered to the customer is a design kit having the tested and validated flow
files, along with the flow manager that executes the flow files. Using the design
kit, a designer of a semiconductor product can input her/his chip specification;
output will be final testable and verifiable design views for a manufacturing facility
of the semiconductor product.