Power network synthesizer for an integrated circuit design

A method of synthesizing a power plan for an integrated circuit device, the method being performed in a computer, the method comprising:

• a first stage comprising:
• preparing, for an area of the integrated circuit device, a plurality of first plans;
• wherein the first plans are alternatives to one another and identify locations, in said area, of power wires to be included in a design of said integrated circuit device;
• computing a value of an attribute for each first plan in the plurality of first plans;
• selecting, from among the plurality of first plans, a first plan whose value for the attribute conforms to a user-specified limit;
• and
• a second stage comprising:
• preparing a second plan honoring a design rule checking (DRC) rule and based on the first plan selected by said selecting;
• wherein the second plan identifies locations, in said area, of power wires to include in said design of said integrated circuit device.