Creating a whole mask only with Ruby

Comments

• Matthias

  June 2013 edited June 2013

  Hi Sveta,

  it is in fact. But you should make yourself familiar with Ruby and the basics of the programming API.

  Here is a very brief example. It creates one cell, one layer and one rectangle on that layer and writes the whole to a file called "x.gds":

  layout = RBA::Layout::new
  
  # database unit 1nm:
  layout.dbu = 0.001
  
  # create a top cell
  top = layout.cell(layout.add_cell("TOP"))
  
  # create a layer: layer number 1, datatype 0
  layer = layout.insert_layer(RBA::LayerInfo::new(1, 0))
  
  # create one rectangle with lower-left coordinates at 0,0
  # and width of 1um and heigth of 2um (coordinates are in
  # database units)
  top.shapes(layer).insert(RBA::Box::new(0, 0, 1000, 2000))
  
  # write to x.gds
  layout.write("x.gds")
  

  You can run the script using KLayout in batch mode with this command line:

  klayout -z -r path_to_script
  

  Regards,

  Matthias
• Sveta

  June 2013 edited November -1

  Thank you Matthias!
• Maks

  June 2013 edited November -1

  Hi Mathias -
  
  I see two possible ways of scripting/programming the layout/geometry - using Ruby scripting (as you explained above in this thread), or generating an ASCII/text version of GDS file (using klayout text gds format - and using any scripting or programming language), and then converting it (through klayout GUI or through script) to binary GDS file.
  
  Are these two approaches completely equivalent, in terms of functionality, or are there some some hidden differences?
  Are there any other approaches possible, within klayout framework?
  You comments on advantages or disadvantages of these approached would be highly appreciated.
  
  
  Thanks,
  
  Max
  ----------
• Matthias

  June 2013 edited June 2013

  Hi Max,

  thank you for mentioning the text file approach. You're right, that is also a valid option.

  I personally prefer the Ruby-based approach but maybe that is because I am quite familiar with it :-)

  Let me list some advantages which come into my mind for every approach.

  Ruby/KLayout:

  • Object model with the capabilities for work with geometrical objects (i.e. transformations)
  • Correctness ensured by engine (i.e. proper forming of GDS hierarchy)
  • Higher level methods are available (i.e. boolean operations)
  • Not restricted to generation of files, allows modification/manipulation of layout
  • Can be embedded into KLayout's UI, i.e. linked to menu items

  Generation of text files + Conversion:

  • No restriction to Ruby (any programming language can be used)
  • Not confined to KLayout as an engine (other tools also support a GDS text format)
  • No need to learn "KLayout API"
  • Better performance, depending on the choice of language

  Matthias