GDS3D Visualization Tutorial for WSL and VcXsrv

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide for visualizing GDSII layouts in 3D using GDS3D on Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), with the help of the VcXsrv X server. The objective is to demonstrate how to set up the environment, configure necessary tools, and visualize circuit layouts, such as CMOS inverters, in a 3D space.

Prerequisites

1. Install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

WSL allows you to run a Linux distribution alongside your Windows operating system. To install WSL, follow these steps:

• Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:

  wsl --install

• Restart your system if prompted and install your preferred Linux distribution (Ubuntu is recommended).
• More detailed instructions can be found in the official WSL installation guide.

2. Install VcXsrv (X Server for Windows)

VcXsrv is required to enable graphical applications to run on Windows from your Linux environment.

• Download and install VcXsrv from here.
• After installation, run XLaunch and select the following options:
  • Multiple Windows
  • Start no client
  • Disable access control
• Finish the configuration and start the server.

3. Install GDS3D

GDS3D is the primary tool for 3D visualization of GDSII files. To install it, follow these steps:

1. Clone the GDS3D repository:

   git clone https://github.com/trilomix/GDS3D.git
   cd GDS3D

2. Build GDS3D:

   mkdir build
   cd build
   cmake ..
   make

4. Install OpenGL and Other Dependencies

Ensure you have the necessary libraries to run the graphical interface.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y libgl1-mesa-glx libglu1-mesa freeglut3

If you encounter issues with missing libraries, consider updating your system or installing any missing dependencies.

Setting Up the Environment

1. Configure the DISPLAY variable To enable graphical output from your Linux environment to Windows, set the DISPLAY variable to the IP address of your WSL environment:

   export DISPLAY=172.28.16.1:0

2. Run VcXsrv Start VcXsrv using XLaunch and keep it running in the background to allow the graphical applications to display on your Windows screen.
3. Test the Configuration To test if everything is working, run the following command to check if X11 is properly set up:

   xeyes

Visualizing a GDS Layout with GDS3D

1. Prepare the GDS and .tech Files Make sure you have a GDSII layout file and a corresponding .tech file. You can find these files in the examples/ folder of this repository.
2. Run GDS3D Once your environment is ready, you can visualize the GDS layout in 3D with the following command:

   GDS3D -p ihp_teste.tech -i rfpmos.gds -t TOP

3. Navigating the 3D Layout Once the visualization is loaded, use the following controls to interact with the layout:

• Mouse Movement: Rotate the layout.
• Scroll Wheel: Zoom in and out.
• Left/Right Click: Pan the layout.