Open-Source Tools for Undergraduate Education: Democratizing IC Design Using EDA

The paper explores the application of open-source tools in integrated circuit (IC) design, focusing on the Skywater Process Development Kit (PDK) and its role in transforming the design process from Register Transfer Level (RTL) to Graphic Design System (GDS). It evaluates the practicality of using open-source software like Xschem, Ngspice, and Magic to simulate, layout, and validate an inverter circuit, ultimately demonstrating their cost-effectiveness and flexibility in real-world IC fabrication.