Optimizing the layout of circuits based on multiple design constraints

A system for performing histogram optimization on a design, the system comprising:

• a memory;
• a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, where the processor is configured to perform
• a) identifying a plurality of groups of paths in a circuit by unique criteria, the unique criteria being any of a netlist regular expression, a cell topology regular expression, a physical structure, or a combination thereof;
• b) selecting at least one group of paths from the plurality of groups of paths for analysis;
• c) generating a cumulative histogram for the group of paths that have been selected, the cumulative histogram including a cumulative path count versus a slack distribution;
• d) comparing the cumulative path count versus the slack distribution of the cumulative histogram to a cumulative path count versus a slack distribution of a reference cumulative histogram for the group of paths;
• and
• e) adjusting a histogram optimization on the group of paths to make the cumulative histogram correspond to the reference cumulative histogram.

A computer program product for performing histogram optimization on a design, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a computer to cause the computer to:

• a) identifying a plurality of groups of paths in a circuit by unique criteria, the unique criteria being any of a netlist regular expression, a cell topology regular expression, a physical structure, or a combination thereof;
• b) selecting at least one group of paths from the plurality of groups of paths for analysis;
• c) generating a cumulative histogram for the group of paths that have been selected, the cumulative histogram including a cumulative path count versus a slack distribution;
• d) comparing the cumulative path count versus the slack distribution of the cumulative histogram to a cumulative path count versus a slack distribution of a reference cumulative histogram for the group of paths;
• and
• e) adjusting a histogram optimization on the group of paths to make the cumulative histogram correspond to the reference cumulative histogram.