Integrated circuit design software with cross probing between tool graphical user interfaces (GUIs)

A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions for execution by a processor to implement an integrated circuit design method, comprising:

• computer readable program instructions for transmitting a cross probe request from a source tool graphical user interface (GUI) to a main window GUI for an integrated circuit design tool, wherein the cross probe request identifies one or more cross-probed features for a target tool GUI;
• computer readable program instructions for commanding a plug-in installation of the target tool GUI if the target tool GUI has not yet been instantiated by the programmable logic design tool;
• computer readable program instructions for transmitting from the main window GUI a notification of the probe request to the target tool GUI;
• and
• computer readable program instructions for displaying the identified one or more cross-probed features at the target tool GUI responsive to the notification.

A system for configuring an integrated circuit, comprising:

• a display;
• a memory for storing instructions;
• and
• a processor configured to retrieve and execute instructions from the memory, wherein the stored instructions configure the processor to implement a main window GUI and a plurality of tool GUIs on the display, the processor being configured to:
• transmit a cross probe request from a source tool graphical user interface (GUI) to a main window GUI for an integrated circuit design tool, wherein the cross probe request identifies one or more cross-probed features for a target tool GUI;
• at the main window GUI, command a plug-in installation of the target tool GUI if the target tool GUI has not yet been instantiated;
• transmit from the main window GUI a notification of the probe request to the target tool GUI;
• and
• display the one or more cross-probed features at the target tool GUI responsive to the notification.