Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- start [2024/01/28 13:12] – [The ACT VLSI Design Tools] rajit
+++ start [2025/01/23 10:01] (current) – [Installation] rajit
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
   * [[asic:start|ACT ASIC flow]]
+===== Installation =====
+If you are interested in building the tools from scratch:
+      * [[install_actflow|actflow]]: use this if you want the full set of tools.
+      * [[install|ACT]]: use this if you only want the core language and some basic tools for custom circuit design. The [[install_actflow|actflow build]] installs this repository as well.
+We also have a [[summer2024:dockersetup|docker container]] that contains the tools, if you'd like to try them out without installing them on your system.
 ===== ACT language =====
-  * [[install|Installing and building ACT]]
+The ACT language combined with a set of configuration files are used when designing circuits. The configuration files control some basic ACT behavior, and also include technology-specific information (e.g. what is the feature size, what are the transistor types available in the technology, etc.)
   * [[language:|Language reference]], and a [[language:migrate|migration guide]] from the older version of ACT.
   * [[config:|ACT configuration files]] needed for a new technology.
@@ Line 18: / Line 27: @@
 ===== ACT library =====
+In addition to the core language, we also provide some standard ACT libraries that include common definitions/etc. for designing asynchronous circuits.
   * [[stdlib:|Standard library]]
+  * [[sim:|Simulation library]], installed together with [[tools:actsim|actsim]]; It provides tools for simulation and verification
+For those interested in writing tools, we have some documentation available for the core ACT library and data structures.
   * [[http://avlsi.csl.yale.edu/act_docs/|Using the ACT library]] (work in progress!)
   * [[guide:|Guide to using ACT data structures]]
+  * [[guide:makefile|Guide to using the standard Makefiles in ACT]]
 ===== Tools =====