About the Course
Synthesis and STA Training is a comprehensive e-learning course designed to provide in-depth exposure to both logic synthesis and static timing analysis (STA), which are critical stages in the VLSI physical design and signoff flow. The course focuses on preparing learners to understand and implement complete timing signoff strategies required for successful and confident tape-out of digital designs to the semiconductor fabrication house.
This program covers the complete synthesis flow starting from RTL design and HDL modeling through constraint development, optimization, and report analysis. Learners gain practical knowledge of how design intent is translated into gate-level netlists and how timing is verified across different operating conditions using STA techniques.
The course emphasizes real-world design scenarios, enabling learners to analyze, debug, and optimize synthesis and timing results. With hands-on projects and tool-based workflows, this training prepares participants for roles in synthesis, STA, and backend digital design domains. It is suitable for both freshers entering the VLSI industry and working professionals seeking to strengthen their timing and synthesis fundamentals.
Course Objectives
The primary objectives of this course are to:
• Build a strong foundation in RTL modeling and HDL-based design methodologies
• Understand the complete synthesis flow from RTL to gate-level netlist
• Develop and apply timing constraints for accurate design intent
• Analyze and debug synthesis and timing reports
• Learn optimization techniques for area, power, and performance
• Understand static timing analysis (STA) concepts and timing signoff strategies
• Gain exposure to real-world tape-out preparation and signoff practices
• Prepare learners for synthesis and STA interviews and industry roles
Synthesis Training Focus
Synthesis training includes all aspects of the digital design implementation flow starting from HDL modeling, synthesis flow setup, constraint definition, result analysis and debugging, optimization techniques, report generation, and hands-on projects to understand the complete synthesis process from RTL to gate-level design.
| Unit Number | Topic | Duration (Mins) |
| 1 | CMOS , Delay , Transition time, Power | 98 |
| 2 | Basics of Synthesis | 100 |
| 3 | Input files for PD | 105 |
| 4 | Basics of PD flow | 148 |
| 5 | Clock transition , Clock latency and clock skew | 145 |
| 6 | Setup Analysis | 143 |
| 7 | Hold Analysis | 170 |
| 8 | In to reg and reg to out , Types of clocks in design | 111 |
| 9 | Tool Installation Support and input file discussion | 162 |
| 10 | PVT conditions , Corners and Explanation of .lib | 182 |
| 11 | Synthesis Flow . LAB | 143 |
| 12 | Some usefull synthesis commands and Types of clocks | 129 |
| 13 | Writing Basic SDC file | 165 |
| 14 | Discussion on power reduction techniques | 170 |
| 15 | UPF for multi voltage design | 123 |
| 16 | Setup Fixing methods and Level shifter analysis | 130 |
| 17 | Floorplan In ICC2 | 143 |
| 18 | Physical Aware Synthesis | 166 |
| 19 | Func mode , Test mode and Multi cycle path | 217 |
| 20 | Writing SDC for different Modes , corners and scenarios | 147 |
| 21 | Writing SDC for different Modes , corners and scenarios | 135 |
| 22 | Check_Timing - Hands on discussion | 160 |
| 23 | Discussion on Synthesis optimization techniques | 200 |
| 24 | Clock gating check and Handling asynchronus signals | 132 |
| 25 | Timing Analysis at placement stage | 143 |
| 26 | Timing Analysis at CTS stage | 146 |
| 27 | Useful skew - hands | 130 |
| 28 | Cross talk | 147 |
| 29 | Shielding and inputs to extract SPEF | 127 |
| 30 | SPEF extraction using STARRC | 74 |
| 31 | DMSA flow in Prime time | 166 |
| Import design |
| Understanding Liberty file |
| Synthesis flow |
| Writing Synopsys design constraints file |
| Multi voltage design and UPF |
| Physical aware synthesis |
| Synthesis optimization techniques |
| Synthesis hands on using tool DC Shell |
| Latency, skew and timing paths |
| • Setup Violation |
| • Hold Violation |
| • In_to_reg paths |
| • reg_to_out paths |
| Derate and its Types |
| • Derate Overview |
| PVT and MCMM |
| • PVT Corners |
| • MCMM Concepts |
| • Writing MCMM File |
| Special Timing Paths |
| • Multicycle Path |
| • Half Cycle Path |
| Clock Domain Crossing (CDC) |
| • Recovery and Removal Checks |
| • Synchronizers |
| Path Grouping |
| Useful Skew |
| • Clock Push and Clock Pull |
| • Time Borrowing |
| Cross Talk Effects |
| • Cross Talk Noise |
| • Cross Talk Delay |
| Design Analysis Tools |
| • Design Analysis using ICC2 or Fusion Compiler (FC) |
| • SPEF Extraction using StarRC |
| PrimeTime Lab |
| • Input for PrimeTime |
| • Analysis Coverage |
| • Check Timing |
| • Cross-talk Analysis |
| • Timing Fixing Methods |
| • Physical Aware ECO |
| • PrimeTime DMSA Flow |
TESTIMONIALS
I joined the Synthesis and STA training with basic VLSI knowledge. The concepts were explained from the fundamentals, especially timing paths, constraints, setup and hold analysis. The hands-on project helped me understand how these concepts are actually used in a real design flow.
The best part of the course for me was the practical sessions. We didn’t just learn commands and theory — we worked on synthesis, timing constraints and timing analysis using a project. Debugging timing issues during the sessions gave me much better confidence.
I had studied STA before, but I was not very clear about how to analyze timing reports properly. After this training, I got a better understanding of setup, hold, clock paths, slack and timing violations. The examples and practice sessions made the concepts much easier to understand.
The training was useful for both technical understanding and interview preparation. Many of the questions I faced in interviews were related to concepts we had discussed during the sessions. The hands-on work also helped me explain the flow with practical examples instead of giving only theoretical answers.