MCP-EDA-Server

MCP EDA - Model Context Protocol for Electronic Design Automation

A comprehensive Model Context Protocol (MCP) based Electronic Design Automation (EDA) system that provides intelligent automation for digital design implementation flows. This system integrates multiple EDA tools through a unified MCP interface, enabling natural language-driven design automation.

Features

• AI-Powered Automation: Natural language interface for EDA operations using GPT-4
• Multi-Tool Integration: Seamless integration of Synopsys Design Compiler and Cadence Innovus
• Complete Design Flow: End-to-end digital design implementation from RTL to GDSII
• RESTful API: Standardized HTTP API for all EDA operations
• Real-time Monitoring: Live status tracking and detailed logging
• Modular Architecture: Independent microservices for each design stage
• Configuration Management: CSV-based parameter management for design optimization

System Architecture

┌─────────────────┐    ┌─────────────────┐    ┌─────────────────┐
│   User Query    │───▶│  MCP Agent      │───▶│  MCP Servers    │
│  (Natural Lang) │    │  Client (8000)  │    │  (13333-13440)  │
└─────────────────┘    └─────────────────┘    └─────────────────┘
                                │                       │
                                ▼                       ▼
                       ┌─────────────────┐    ┌─────────────────┐
                       │   OpenAI GPT-4  │    │   EDA Tools     │
                       │   (Tool Select) │    │  (DC/Innovus)   │
                       └─────────────────┘    └─────────────────┘

MCP Server Architecture

Service	Port	Endpoint	Description
MCP Agent Client	8000	/agent	Main interface for natural language processing
Synthesis Setup	13333	/setup/run	RTL synthesis setup and configuration
Synthesis Compile	13334	/compile/run	RTL-to-gate synthesis compilation
Floorplan	13335	/floorplan/run	Chip floorplanning and I/O placement
Power Planning	13336	/power/run	Power distribution network generation
Placement	13337	/place/run	Standard cell placement optimization
Clock Tree Synthesis	13338	/cts/run	Clock distribution network synthesis
Routing	13339	/route/run	Signal routing and optimization
Save Design	13440	/save/run	Final design saving and output generation

Prerequisites

Software Requirements

• Python 3.9+
• Synopsys Design Compiler (for synthesis)
• Cadence Innovus (for physical implementation)
• FreePDK45 technology library
• OpenAI API Key (for GPT-4 integration)

System Requirements

• OS: Linux (tested on Ubuntu 20.04+)
• Memory: 8GB RAM minimum (16GB+ recommended)
• Storage: 10GB free space for design files and logs
• Network: Local network access for inter-service communication

Installation

Option 1: Docker Deployment (Recommended)

Due to licensing restrictions of commercial EDA tools, we use a hybrid Docker approach:

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/AndyLu666/MCP-EDA-Server.git
cd MCP-EDA-Server

# Copy environment template
cp docker/env.example .env

# Edit .env file with your configuration
# - Set your OpenAI API key
# - Configure EDA tools host
# - Set license file paths

# Deploy using Docker
chmod +x docker/deploy.sh
./docker/deploy.sh deploy

Note: EDA tools (Design Compiler, Innovus) must be installed on the host system with valid licenses. The Docker containers communicate with these tools via network.

Option 2: Local Installation

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/AndyLu666/MCP-EDA-Server.git
cd MCP-EDA-Server

2. Set Up Python Environment

# Create virtual environment
python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Configure Environment Variables

Create a .env file in the project root:

# OpenAI API Configuration
OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_api_key_here

# MCP Server Configuration
MCP_SERVER_HOST=http://localhost

# Optional: Custom ports (defaults shown)
SETUP_PORT=13333
COMPILE_PORT=13334
FLOORPLAN_PORT=13335
POWER_PORT=13336
PLACE_PORT=13337
CTS_PORT=13338
ROUTE_PORT=13339
SAVE_PORT=13440

4. Verify EDA Tools Installation

# Check Design Compiler
which dc_shell

# Check Innovus
which innovus

# Verify FreePDK45 library
ls libraries/FreePDK45/

Quick Start

1. Start MCP Agent Client

# Terminal 1: Start the main agent
conda activate eda310  # or your conda environment
uvicorn mcp_agent_client:app --reload --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000

2. Start MCP Servers

# Terminal 2: Start all MCP servers
./restart_servers.sh

# Or start individually:
cd server
python3 synth_setup_server.py --port 13333 &
python3 synth_compile_server.py --port 13334 &
python3 floorplan_server.py --port 13335 &
python3 powerplan_server.py --port 13336 &
python3 placement_server.py --port 13337 &
python3 cts_server.py --port 13338 &
python3 route_server.py --port 13339 &
python3 save_server.py --port 13440 &

3. Run Your First Design

# Test with the example design
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run synth_setup for design=\"des\" and return the log path."}'

📖 Usage Guide

Natural Language Interface

The MCP Agent Client understands natural language queries and automatically selects the appropriate EDA tool:

# Synthesis
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run synth_setup for design=\"my_design\" and return the log path."}'

curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run synth_compile for design=\"my_design\" and return the log path."}'

# Physical Implementation
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run floorplan for design=\"my_design\", top_module=\"my_module\" and return the path to floorplan.enc.dat."}'

curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run placement for design=\"my_design\", top_module=\"my_module\" and return the path to placement.enc.dat."}'

curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run routing for design=\"my_design\", top_module=\"my_module\" and return the path to route_opt.enc.dat."}'

curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run save for design=\"my_design\", top_module=\"my_module\" and return the archive path."}'

Complete Design Flow Example

# 1. Synthesis Setup
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run synth_setup for design=\"des\" and return the log path."}'

# 2. Synthesis Compile
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run synth_compile for design=\"des\" and return the log path."}'

# 3. Floorplan
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run floorplan for design=\"des\", top_module=\"des3\" and return the syn_ver and the path to floorplan.enc.dat."}'

# 4. Power Planning
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run powerplan for design=\"des\", top_module=\"des3\", impl_ver=\"cpV1_clkP1_drcV1__g0_p0\" and return the path to powerplan.enc.dat."}'

# 5. Placement
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run placement for design=\"des\", top_module=\"des3\", impl_ver=\"cpV1_clkP1_drcV1__g0_p0\" and return the path to placement.enc.dat."}'

# 6. Clock Tree Synthesis
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run CTS for design=\"des\", top_module=\"des3\", impl_ver=\"cpV1_clkP1_drcV1__g0_p0\" and return the path to cts.enc.dat."}'

# 7. Routing
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run routing for design=\"des\", top_module=\"des3\", impl_ver=\"cpV1_clkP1_drcV1__g0_p0\" and return the path to route_opt.enc.dat."}'

# 8. Save Design
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run save for design=\"des\", top_module=\"des3\", impl_ver=\"cpV1_clkP1_drcV1__g0_p0\" and return the archive path."}'

Project Structure

mcp-eda-example/
├── designs/                    # Design source files and results
│   ├── des/                   # Example design
│   │   ├── rtl/              # RTL source files
│   │   ├── FreePDK45/        # Technology-specific results
│   │   │   ├── synthesis/    # Synthesis outputs
│   │   │   └── implementation/ # Physical implementation
│   │   └── config.tcl           # Design configuration
│   ├── b14/                  # Additional designs
│   └── leon2/
├── server/                    # MCP server implementations
│   ├── synth_setup_server.py    # Synthesis setup service
│   ├── synth_compile_server.py  # Synthesis compile service
│   ├── floorplan_server.py      # Floorplanning service
│   ├── powerplan_server.py      # Power planning service
│   ├── placement_server.py      # Placement service
│   ├── cts_server.py           # Clock tree synthesis service
│   ├── route_server.py         # Routing service
│   └── save_server.py          # Design save service
├── scripts/                   # EDA tool scripts
│   ├── FreePDK45/           # Technology-specific scripts
│   │   ├── frontend/        # Synthesis scripts
│   │   └── backend/         # Physical implementation scripts
│   └── _helper/             # Python helper scripts
├── config/                    # Configuration files
│   ├── synthesis.csv           # Synthesis parameters
│   ├── imp_global.csv          # Implementation parameters
│   ├── placement.csv           # Placement parameters
│   └── cts.csv                 # CTS parameters
├── libraries/                 # Technology libraries
│   └── FreePDK45/           # FreePDK45 library files
├── logs/                      # Execution logs
├── deliverables/              # Final design outputs
├── mcp_agent_client.py          # Main MCP agent client
├── restart_servers.sh           # Server startup script
├── docker-compose.yml           # Docker Compose configuration
├── docker/                      # Docker configuration files
│   ├── Dockerfile.agent         # MCP Agent Client Dockerfile
│   ├── Dockerfile.servers       # MCP Servers Dockerfile
│   ├── health_check.py          # Health check script
│   ├── deploy.sh                # Deployment script
│   └── env.example              # Environment template
├── requirements.txt             # Python dependencies
└── README.md                    # This file

Configuration

Design Configuration (designs/<design>/config.tcl)

# Top-level module name
set TOP_NAME "your_module"

# File format (verilog/vhdl)
set FILE_FORMAT "verilog"

# Clock port name
set CLOCK_NAME "clk"

# Clock period in nanoseconds
set clk_period 1.0

Synthesis Configuration (config/synthesis.csv)

Parameter	Description	Default Value
clk_period	Target clock period (ns)	1.0
DRC_max_fanout	Maximum fanout	10
DRC_max_transition	Maximum transition time (ns)	0.5
DRC_max_capacitance	Maximum capacitance (pF)	5.0
compile_cmd	Compilation command	compile_ultra
map_effort	Mapping effort	high
power_effort	Power optimization effort	medium
area_effort	Area optimization effort	medium

Implementation Configuration (config/imp_global.csv)

Parameter	Description	Default Value
ASPECT_RATIO	Die aspect ratio	1.0
target_util	Target utilization	0.7
design_flow_effort	Flow effort level	standard
design_power_effort	Power optimization effort	medium

API Reference

MCP Agent Client API

POST /agent

Main endpoint for natural language EDA operations.

Request Body:

{
  "user_query": "Run synth_setup for design=\"des\" and return the log path."
}

Response:

{
  "tool_called": "synth_setup",
  "tool_input": {
    "design": "des",
    "tech": "FreePDK45",
    "version_idx": 0,
    "force": true
  },
  "tool_output": {
    "status": "ok",
    "log_path": "/path/to/log/file",
    "reports": {
      "check_design.rpt": "report content"
    }
  }
}

Individual MCP Server APIs

Synthesis Setup Server (Port 13333)

POST /setup/run

{
  "design": "des",
  "tech": "FreePDK45",
  "version_idx": 0,
  "force": true
}

Floorplan Server (Port 13335)

POST /floorplan/run

{
  "design": "des",
  "top_module": "des3",
  "tech": "FreePDK45",
  "syn_ver": "cpV1_clkP1_drcV1",
  "g_idx": 0,
  "p_idx": 0,
  "force": true
}

Placement Server (Port 13337)

POST /place/run

{
  "design": "des",
  "top_module": "des3",
  "tech": "FreePDK45",
  "impl_ver": "cpV1_clkP1_drcV1__g0_p0",
  "g_idx": 0,
  "p_idx": 0,
  "restore_enc": "/path/to/powerplan.enc.dat",
  "force": true
}

Monitoring and Debugging

Log Files

All operations generate detailed logs in the logs/ directory:

logs/
├── setup/           # Synthesis setup logs
├── compile/         # Synthesis compile logs
├── floorplan/       # Floorplanning logs
├── powerplan/       # Power planning logs
├── placement/       # Placement logs
├── cts/            # Clock tree synthesis logs
├── route/          # Routing logs
└── save/           # Design save logs

Status Checking

# Check if all servers are running
netstat -tlnp | grep -E "(1333[3-9]|13440|8000)"

# Check server processes
ps aux | grep -E "(synth_setup|floorplan|placement|cts|route)"

# Monitor logs in real-time
tail -f logs/setup/des_setup_*.log

Common Issues and Solutions

1. Port Already in Use

# Kill existing processes
pkill -f "synth_setup_server.py"
pkill -f "floorplan_server.py"
# ... repeat for other servers

2. EDA Tool Not Found

# Check tool installation
which dc_shell
which innovus

# Set up environment variables
export SNPSLMD_LICENSE_FILE=/path/to/synopsys/license
export CDS_LIC_FILE=/path/to/cadence/license

3. Library Path Issues

# Verify FreePDK45 library
ls -la libraries/FreePDK45/

# Check library references in scripts
grep -r "FreePDK45" scripts/

Testing

Run Example Design

# Complete flow test
./run_pipeline.sh

# Individual stage test
python3 scripts/_helper/synthesis_config_row_no_dbg.py \
  --design des --version-idx 0 --tech FreePDK45

Test Different Designs

# Test VHDL design (b14)
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run synth_setup for design=\"b14\" and return the log path."}'

# Test another design (leon2)
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/agent \
  -d '{"user_query":"Run synth_setup for design=\"leon2\" and return the log path."}'

Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please see our Contributing Guide for details.

Development Setup

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Make your changes
4. Add tests
5. Submit a pull request

Code Style

• Use Python 3.9+ features
• Follow PEP 8 style guidelines
• Add type hints
• Include docstrings for all functions

Acknowledgments

• Synopsys for Design Compiler
• Cadence for Innovus
• OpenAI for GPT-4 API
• FreePDK45 for open-source technology library
• FastAPI for the web framework

Support

• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Discussions: GitHub Discussions
• Documentation: Wiki

Version History

• v1.0.0 - Initial release with basic MCP EDA functionality
• v1.1.0 - Added VHDL support and improved error handling
• v1.2.0 - Enhanced monitoring and logging capabilities

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