A powerful and versatile ASIC infrastructure library
LibreLane is a powerful and versatile infrastructure library that enables the construction of digital implementation flows for application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) based on open-source and commercial electronic design automation (EDA) tools. It includes two reference flows (Classic and Chip) that are built entirely using open-source EDA tools.
The successor to the massively popular OpenLane, LibreLane is:
- Simple to use: Configure your entire ASIC implementation flow using one file.
- Free and open source: With a complementary set of open-source process design kits (PDKs), design and implement your chip without signing a single document. Freely modify both the infrastructure, underlying tools, and PDK to fit your needs – you're in control. Not a vendor.
- Flexible and extensible: Create custom flows, both by simple modifications to the default flows in the configuration file, or by writing Python scripts or plugins to implement advanced functionality.
- Hermetic: Rewind and explore alternative configurations without losing data – LibreLane captures explicit snapshots of the configuration and state of your design at every step.
- Reproducible and traceable: LibreLane comes packaged with a verified environment of free EDA utilities with a simple goal in mind: same tools, same flow, same configuration; same result. Capture your modifications and engineering change orders (ECOs) as automated steps, and your flow is your documentation.
You can try LibreLane right in your browser:
LibreLane Repository
LibreLane Documentation
Our Principles
Community
LibreLane is developed by the community, for the community. Join us over at FOSSi Chat!
Innovation
LibreLane allows you to configure and implement chips using just one configuration file – and once it works, it keeps working.
Guardianship
LibreLane is under the umbrella of the FOSSi Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation.
PDK Support
sky130
gf180mcu
ihp-sg13
Support for additional open-source or proprietary PDKs can be added by creating a LibreLane PDK configuration. Read more about this process in the LibreLane documentation under Process Design Kits and Universal Flow PDK Configuration Variables. A good example for a LibreLane PDK configuration can be found in the IHP Open PDK.
LibreLane Plugins
LibreLane also supports the ability to freely extend or modify flows using Python scripts and utilities. You would like your plugin to be featured? Please write to librelane@fossi-foundation.org.
Testimonials
Tiny Tapeout
"We couldn't run Tiny Tapeout without LibreLane — it’s our default Verilog to GDS flow. Its simplicity enables our customers to create their first designs. Its flexibility enables us to use it for the Tiny Tapeout chip design itself; the multiplexers, the controller, the ROM." — Matt Venn, Tiny Tapeout Founder
ChipFoundry
"LibreLane brings software-defined agility to the hardware world. By providing a stable, extensible framework for specialized design flows, they help ChipFoundry customers accelerate the path to silicon. It’s a powerful addition to the designer’s toolkit that streamlines the transition from concept to verified design." — Jeff DiCorpo, CEO ChipFoundry
NativeChips
"OpenLane proved that open-source EDA could produce real silicon — more than 800 tapeouts delivered. LibreLane takes that foundation and makes it programmable, modular, and extensible enough to build commercial design flows on top of." — Mohamed Kassem, CEO NativeChips
wafer.space
"With LibreLane, our customers can create complete chip designs, ready for tape-out with wafer.space. To ensure that each and every design is manufacturable, we use LibreLane to implement our custom precheck flow." — Tim “mithro” Ansell", CEO wafer.space
SPHERICAL
"LibreLane enables us to integrate place and route into our software-driven flow with flexibility - and then use it to build high-performance chips for space." — Thomas Parry, CEO SPHERICAL
You would like to be featured in our testimonials? Please write to librelane@fossi-foundation.org.
Chip design is hard. LibreLane makes it easy.
LibreLane enables educators, researchers, hobbyists, and industry professionals alike to create manufacturable chips.
Install LibreLane now for Windows, macOS, or Linux.