12/7/25 First Release Vs 0.8 , download links active as of today… please follow the directions very closely
Installing the ConfirmaXL IC Design System (win10/11 only)
The ConfirmaXL IC Design System is composed of the ConfirmaXL framework in combination with a variety of 3rd party point tools.
The point tools to be installed are Kicad V6 (schematics), Topspice demo, ngspice & Xyce (spice simulation & waveform viewing), LASI & KLAYOUT (for chip layout).
This initial set point tools are installed separately from ConfirmaXL. The installation of the entire design flow is thus a multi-step process with the specific steps outlined below.
Please also keep in mind that ConfirmaXL is being released as 0.8V software and so does not yet have full flexibility in the configuration. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that folders\files and programs be placed at the exact locations specified to avoid unanticipated issues.
Step 1) Download the ConfirmaXL version 0.8 zip file.
There is no installation program at this time. Simply download and uncompress the zip file to a temporary folder.
Place the contents of this folder at the location c:\confirmaxl on the user hard drive.
Link to download ConfirmaXL zip file (this link is now active!)
This is what the ConfirmaXL folder should look like after download and unzipping. Again, this folder must be named c:\confirmXL
Step 2) Download ConfirmaXL compatible symbol libraries, behavioral models, and process design kits
An initial set of KiCad symbol libraries are needed to simulate using ConfirmaXL. Initial PSMG simulation PDK’s for 45nm and 180nm are provided to allow immediate design and simulation of CMOS circuitry. Spiced based behavioral model libraries are provided to enable block level RF/Mixed-signal designs within the ConfirmaXL flow using generic spice simulators. The symbol and behavioral model library folders are provided in one zip file. The PSMG PDK folders are provided in a second zip file. The PDK’s are still being developed and refined so the PDK zip folder will be updated often. Together, these three sub-folders will be placed in a “tech” folder on the “ydrive” folder.
1) Create folder c:\ydrive\tech on your C:\ drive
2) Download and uncompress CXLlibs.zip to a temp folder. Copy both CXL folders into c:\ydrive\tech
3) Create folder c:\ydrive\tech\process
4) Download and uncompress CXLpsmgPDKs.zip to a temp folder. Copy the psmg folder to c:\ydrive\tech\process
This is what the c:\ydrive\tech folder should look like when finished.
This is what the c:\ydrive\tech\process folder should look like when finished. Note other pdk folders outside psmg are shown but not provided
Important: All provided ConfirmaXL folders will be updated and overwritten often. It is important to place your own work in your own folders. For example, you may add subfolder for your own target foundry to the “process” folder using your own unique name. You may choose to place your own versions of TSMC 0.18um & 90nm PDK’s into “…/process/tsmc/t180” & “…/process/tsmc/t090” folders for instance where they would not be overwritten.
Step 3) Download initial project development folders.
Three styles of IC development folders are provided as a guide to designing IC’s in the ConfirmaXL Design System
These are 1) Company Design Team, 2) University Design Team and 3) Individual Designer
All development styles follow a proven design methodology intended to improve design quality, design reuse and reduce overall design and project management effort. At this time only 3) Individual Designer workspace is downloaded as a folder
1) Download and uncompress CXLmyChipDesigns.zip to a temp folder. Copy the MyChipDesigns folder to c:\ydrive
This is what the c:\ydrive folder should look like when finished. Note, only MyChipDesigns folder is provided in Vs 0.8
Step 4) Recommended Kicad install file
ConfirmaXL has been developed and tested using Kicad up to version 6.03. It is recommended that only version 6 be installed until ConfirmaXL is tested and verified using newer versions of Kicad such as versions 7,8 or 9.
Link to download Kicad 6.03 install file (note: file size >1GB)
Once Kicad V6 is installed, it will be necessary to initialize the symbol table with the IC design related libraries and your “working” library.
It is also necessary to add the “Pass to ConfirmaXL” plugin to EEschema. This enables the schematic design information to be passed to confirmaXL from the EEschema interface. If ConfirmaXL is not started, Pass to Confirma will start it and load files related to the simulation.
Instructions for configuring the 3rd party tools in ConfirmaXL is provided in Part 4 of the manual here. An installation video will soon follow.
Step 5) Spice Simulators - These simulators should be installed into the locations specified below to work with the default ConfirmaXL spice setups. Other spice simulators of the users choosing may be added at a later time.
Get the NGspice simulator here (install to C:\ngspice-44.2_64 or similar according to version. Note: you may have to update the path in the spice simular setup form)
Get the Xyce simulator here (install to C:\Program Files\Xyce_7.9 or similar according to version. Note: you may have to update the path in the spice simular setup form)
Get the TopSpice demo software at www.Penzar.com
Step 6) IC Layout Software - These layout tools should be installed into the locations specified below to work with the default ConfirmaXL layout tool setups. The setups will need updating if these tools are installed into other locations
Documentation on how to setup spice simulators and LASI and Klayout layout tools are here
Get Klayout here
Get Lasi here . Unzip the Lasi folder and place folder as c:\lasi7 on you c: drive
Step 7) EM simulation software. An interface is being prepared to support Sonnet EM lite but is not ready yet.