Timing violation debugging inside place and route tool

A storage medium for use in a computer to develop a circuit design, the storage medium recording a software tool that is readable and executable by the computer, the software tool comprising the steps of:

• (A) receiving a first user input that identifies a specific violation of a plurality of performance violations;
• (B) generating a layout display comprising a block diagram of said circuit design corresponding to said specific violation;
• (C) receiving a second user input that identifies a specific buffer of said circuit design, said specific buffer being associated with said specific violation [of a plurality of performance violations];
• (D) generating a buffer display corresponding to said specific buffer, said buffer display comprising (i) a plurality of alternate buffers suitable to replace said specific buffer to alter said specific violation and (ii) a plurality of performance characteristics of said alternate buffers;
• (E) receiving a third user input that identifies a replacement buffer of said alternate buffers;
• and
• (F) automatically generating a first engineering change order to replace said specific buffer with said replacement buffer.

A method of developing a circuit design, comprising the steps of:

• A) receiving a first user input that identifies a specific violation of a plurality of performance violations;
• (B) generating a layout display comprising a block diagram of said circuit design corresponding to said specific violation;
• (C) receiving a second user input that identifies a specific cell of a plurality of existing cells in said circuit design, said specific cell having a timing characteristic corresponding to said specific violation;
• (D) generating a replacement display corresponding to said specific cell using a computer, said replacement display comprising a plurality of alternate cells suitable to replace said specific cell to alter said specific violation, at least two of said alternate cells having different values associated with said timing characteristic of said specific cell;
• (E) receiving a third user input that identifies a replacement cell of said alternate cells;
• and
• (F) automatically generating a first engineering change order to replace said specific cell with said replacement cell.