Synthesis & Logic Optimization · All levels

Synthesis Mastery Cheatsheet

Dense reference for QoR closure, ECO decisions, and interview answers.

Debug order

diagram

RUN CONTEXT -> METRIC -> MECHANISM -> FIX -> REGRESSION

Constraints: clocks, IO, exceptions, preserve policy
Mapping: depth/fanout/library fit
Datapath/Retiming: stage balance + formal safety
PPA: timing vs area vs power Pareto
Incremental: localized compile + ECO evidence
Physical-aware: topo/congestion correlation
Closure: owner signoff + rollback criteria

Questions before merging a synthesis fix

Is run context identical to baseline?
Which QoR lane improved and which regressed?
What artifact proves the mechanism?
Is the fix reversible?
What full regression matrix passed?

Practice this lesson