KLayout integration#
KLayout is a powerful open-source layout viewer and editor widely used in the semiconductor industry.
In the GDSFactory code-driven workflow, you define components, circuits, and reticles using Python or YAML. To enable rapid design iteration, GDSFactory includes a KLayout macro extension, which runs directly inside KLayout. This allows you to visualize your layouts instantly: when you call component.show()
in Python, your GDS layout is automatically displayed in KLayout.
You can install the GDSFactory KLayout plugin to enable live GDS updates using component.show()
, so you don’t need to manually go through File → Open → Select GDS every time.
Installing the plugin adds the following features:
Live display of GDS layouts with
component.show()
Port visualization
PCell metadata inspection
Built-in
generic_pdk
layer map support