// SCRIPTING & AUTOMATION TRACK

Linux · Shell · Perl · TCL/TK & EDA Automation

The scripting skills that separate a good VLSI engineer from a great one. Every semiconductor company runs on Linux automation, Perl parsers, and TCL-driven EDA tools — learn them all from scratch to industry-ready.

// SKILL PROGRESSION

From Zero to EDA Automation Expert

Linux CLI

→

Shell Scripting

→

Perl Automation

→

TCL for EDA

→

TCL/TK GUI

→

Capstone Projects ✓

// COURSE PILLARS

Eight Modules, One Complete Skillset

🐧

// MODULES 1 & 7

Linux Fundamentals & Advanced Utilities

Master the semiconductor Linux environment — file system, permissions, editors, grep/awk/sed pipelines, process management, remote access, and advanced multi-server batch computing.

Shell Environmentgrep / awk / sed vim / gvimssh / scp / rsync MakefileGit

📅 3 Weeks 📚 4 Hands-on Labs

📜

// MODULES 2 & 3

Shell Scripting & Perl Programming

Write regression launchers, simulation automation wrappers, and batch log analyzers in Shell. Then master Perl — the backbone of EDA infrastructure — for regex-based log parsing, timing report extraction, and UVM log analysis.

Shell VariablesLoops & Functions Perl RegexHashes & Arrays File ParsingReport Generation

📅 6 Weeks 📚 9 Industry Labs

⚙️

// MODULES 4 & 5

TCL for EDA Tools & TCL/TK GUIs

TCL is the primary scripting language inside every major EDA tool. Master TCL for Cadence Innovus, Tempus, and Genus. Then build real GUI dashboards and tool launchers using TCL/TK widgets.

TCL Proceduresget_cells / get_pins Innovus TCLTempus TCL TK WidgetsEDA GUI Launcher

📅 6 Weeks 📚 8 Lab Exercises

🚀

// MODULES 6 & 8

EDA Automation & Capstone Projects

Tie everything together — build full automation frameworks for verification regression, STA analysis, physical design QoR reporting, and DRC tracking. Five industry-grade capstone projects you can show in interviews.

Regression PipelineSTA Dashboard DRC AutomationQoR Comparison GUI LauncherLog Classifier

📅 4 Weeks 📚 5 Capstone Projects

// FULL CURRICULUM

Module-by-Module Learning Path

Module 01 · Linux Fundamentals for Semiconductor Industry

Linux Architecture, File System, Permissions & Remote Tools

Complete Linux mastery for VLSI workflows — from basic navigation to log parsing automation used in real EDA environments.

Linux architecture & shell environmentSemiconductor Linux workflowsUser & group managementpwd / ls / cd / mkdir / rm / cp / mvtouch / tree / symbolic linkschmod / chown / user-group accessvi / vim / gvim + shortcutsgrep / egrep / sed / awk / findcut / sort / uniqps / top / htop / jobs / bg / fg / kill / nohupssh / scp / rsync.bashrc / aliases / environment variablesLab: UVM error log searchLab: Timing report extractionLab: Remote Linux server handling

Module 02 · Shell Scripting for VLSI Automation

Variables, Loops, Functions & Regression Automation

Write production-grade shell scripts that automate simulation launches, batch log analysis, and STA summary extraction.

Variables & user inputOperatorsif / else / case statementsfor / while / nested loopsReusable automation functionsFile parsing & batch executionRegression launchingSimulation automation wrappersReport generationLab: Regression launcher scriptLab: Simulation automation frameworkLab: Batch log analyzerLab: STA summary extraction

Module 03 · Perl Programming for VLSI

Scalars, Hashes, Regex, File Handling & EDA Parsing

Perl powers regression infrastructure and EDA automation at every major chip company. Master it from basics to advanced regex-based timing report parsing.

Scalars / Arrays / HashesArithmetic / relational / string operatorsLoops & conditionalsSubroutines & modular codingopen / read / write / CSV handlingRegex -- pattern matching (CRITICAL)Timing report extraction via regexUVM log parsingDRC / LVS parsingReferences / packages / modulesCommand-line argumentsLab: UVM error parserLab: Timing violation extractorLab: Regression summary generatorLab: Coverage report analyzerLab: DRC violation parser

Module 04 · TCL Programming for EDA Tools

TCL Fundamentals, Procedures, Collections & EDA Automation

TCL is the primary scripting language inside Cadence Innovus, Tempus, and Genus. Mastering it means being able to automate any EDA workflow.

Variables / data types / lists / arraysArithmetic / relational / logical operatorsif / switch / loopsproc creation & argument passingReading reports & writing automation scriptsget_cells / get_ports / get_pinsHierarchical queriesTempus TCL automationInnovus TCL scriptingGenus TCL scriptingLab: Timing report extractionLab: Congestion report automationLab: QoR comparison utility

Module 05 · TCL/TK GUI Development

Frames, Widgets, Layouts & EDA GUI Utilities

Build real GUI tools your team will actually use — EDA launchers, regression dashboards, timing analysis panels, and log viewers, all in TCL/TK.

Frames / Labels / Buttons / Entry widgetspack / grid / place layout managersEvent handling & callbacksInput handling & validationEDA launcher GUIReport dashboardAutomation control panelsLab: Timing analysis GUILab: Regression dashboardLab: Tool launcher utilityLab: Log viewer application

Module 06 · Semiconductor EDA Automation

Verification, Physical Design, STA & Synthesis Automation

Combine all scripting skills into domain-specific EDA automation across the full chip design flow.

Verification: regression handling / UVM log parsingVerification: coverage extractionPD: congestion parsing / DRC analysisPD: power report automationSTA: slack extraction & violation categorizationSTA: path analysis automationSynthesis: area/timing report parsingSynthesis: QoR comparison scriptsLab: Full automation frameworkLab: STA dashboardLab: Regression automation pipeline

Module 07 · Advanced Linux Utilities for VLSI

Advanced Parsing, Makefiles, Batch Computing & Git

Level up your Linux automation — advanced awk/sed pipelines, distributed execution across server farms, Makefile-driven build flows, and Git-based team scripting.

awk advanced scriptingsed transformations & multi-file parsingDistributed execution & server farm handlingMakefile build automation & dependenciesGit version control basicsCollaborative scripting workflowsLab: Multi-server executionLab: Automated build flowLab: Git-based automation repository

Module 08 · Industrial Capstone Projects

5 Real Industry Projects — Portfolio Ready

Apply everything in five complete industry-grade projects for your GitHub portfolio and interviews.

Project 1: Complete Regression Automation FrameworkProject 2: Tempus Timing Analysis UtilityProject 3: Physical Design QoR DashboardProject 4: EDA Tool GUI Launcher (TCL/TK)Project 5: Automated Log & Failure Classification System

// TOOLS & TECHNOLOGIES

Everything You'll Work With

🐧

Linux / Bash

Environment

📜

Perl 5

Scripting

⚙️

TCL / TK

EDA Automation

🔍

grep / awk / sed

Text Processing

⏱️

Cadence Tempus

STA Automation

🏗

Cadence Innovus

PD Automation

🧬

Cadence Genus

Synthesis TCL

🐙

Git / Make

Build & Version

// INDUSTRY USE CASES

What You'll Automate at Your First Job

🔄Verification Regression
Launch 100s of UVM simulation jobs, collect results, parse logs, classify failures, and generate HTML summary reports -- all automatically.

⏱️STA Violation Tracking
Extract setup/hold violations from Tempus reports, categorize by path groups, track across MCMM corners, and generate Excel-ready CSV summaries.

📐Physical Design QoR
Parse Innovus congestion reports, DRC counts, and wire length metrics across iterations. Build dashboards that show PD closure progress at a glance.

📊Coverage Analysis
Merge coverage databases, extract per-test contributions, identify uncovered bins, and drive targeted regression for faster closure.

💻EDA GUI Tools
Build TCL/TK GUI launchers that let team members run complex EDA flows with a single button click -- no command-line expertise needed.

🧬Synthesis Reporting
Automatically parse Genus reports, compare QoR across synthesis runs, and flag area/timing regressions in every nightly build.

// BONUS CONTENT

Bonus Modules Included

🐍

Python for VLSI Automation

Introduction to Python as a complement to Perl and TCL -- pandas for report parsing, matplotlib for QoR charts, and scripting EDA flows with Python subprocess.

pandasmatplotlibsubprocessCSV/Excel

🔄

Jenkins & CI/CD for Semiconductor

Set up Jenkins pipelines for nightly regression, automated tapeout checklists, and continuous integration of RTL/PD flows used at advanced semiconductor companies.

JenkinsCI/CD PipelineNightly RegressionAutomation

🤖

AI-Assisted Scripting

Use AI tools to accelerate TCL, Perl, and Shell script development -- prompt engineering for EDA automation, AI-driven log classification, and intelligent report parsing.

AI PromptingLog ClassificationCode GenerationProductivity

// ENROLL NOW

Ready to Automate the Chip Design World?

Next batch starts soon. Limited seats. Book your free demo session today.