LEF/DEF Viewer (Rust)

A Rust-based LEF (Library Exchange Format) and DEF (Design Exchange Format) file viewer with a modern GUI built using egui.

Screenshot

Features

• LEF File Support: Parse and visualize LEF files containing macro definitions, pins, and layout information
• DEF File Support: Parse and visualize DEF files with die area, components, nets, and routing information
• Interactive GUI: Modern interface with file browsing, zoom/pan controls, and detailed data inspection
• Real-time Visualization: Dynamic rendering of layout elements with proper scaling and positioning
• Cross-platform: Built with Rust and egui for Windows, macOS, and Linux support
• Static Binary: Linux version available with musl static linking for portable deployment

Installation

Prerequisites

• Rust 1.70+ (install from rustup.rs)

Building from Source

git clone <repository-url>
cd lefdef-viewer
cargo build --release

Building Static Binary (Linux)

For a fully static binary on Linux that doesn't depend on system libraries:

# Install musl target
rustup target add x86_64-unknown-linux-musl

# Install musl tools (on Debian/Ubuntu)
sudo apt-get install musl-tools

# Build with musl target
cargo build --release --target x86_64-unknown-linux-musl

The resulting binary will be at target/x86_64-unknown-linux-musl/release/lefdef-viewer.

Running

cargo run --release

Usage

1. Open Files: Use File -> Open LEF File or Open DEF File to load your files
2. Navigate: Use mouse drag to pan around the visualization
3. Zoom: Use the zoom slider in the left panel or mouse wheel
4. View Details: Enable "Show LEF Details" or "Show DEF Details" from the View menu for detailed information
5. Reset View: Click "Reset View" to return to the original zoom and pan settings

Architecture

The project is structured into several modules:

• lef/: LEF file parsing and data structures
  • mod.rs: Core LEF data structures (LefMacro, LefPin, LefRect, etc.)
  • parser.rs: Nom-based parser for LEF files
  • reader.rs: High-level reader interface
• def/: DEF file parsing and data structures
  • mod.rs: Core DEF data structures (DefComponent, DefNet, DefPin, etc.)
  • parser.rs: Nom-based parser for DEF files
  • reader.rs: High-level reader interface
• gui.rs: egui-based graphical user interface
• main.rs: Application entry point

Supported Features

LEF Files

• MACRO definitions with class, source, and site information
• PIN definitions with direction, use, and shape
• PORT definitions with layer rectangles
• OBS (obstruction) definitions
• Size and origin information

DEF Files

• DIEAREA definitions
• GCELLGRID definitions (X and Y)
• Component placement information
• Pin definitions and locations
• Net connectivity (basic parsing)
• Row and track definitions

Dependencies

• egui: Immediate mode GUI framework
• eframe: Application framework for egui
• nom: Parser combinator library for file parsing
• serde: Serialization framework
• rfd: Native file dialog
• log & env_logger: Logging support

License

Licensed under either of

• MIT License (LICENSE-MIT)

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

Roadmap

• Enhanced DEF parsing (complete COMPONENTS, NETS sections)
• Layer management and visualization
• Export functionality (PNG, SVG)
• Advanced measurement tools
• Design rule checking visualization
• Technology file support
• Performance optimizations for large files