The-OpenROAD-Project/OpenROAD

test: isolate tests at multiple tools

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#10,749 opened on Jun 24, 2026

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good first issue

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Description

Description

Ideally, a regression test should be isolated and depend only on the specific tool it is meant to test.

For example, some tests in CTS call global_placement and/or detailed_placement, which is unnecessary. In fact, DPL (detailed_placement) is currently invoked by the regression tests of several different tools, including cts, grt, odb, psm, ram, rsz, tap, and OpenROAD.

Consequently, PR https://github.com/The-OpenROAD-Project/OpenROAD/pull/10226 (which introduces changes to DPL) requires modifications to over 170 files, mostly updating golden regression targets. This level of maintenance overhead should not be necessary.

Suggested Solution

To address this, we should run the prerequisite commands once to generate an intermediate ODB or DEF file. This file can then be stored and used as the direct input for the target tool's regression test, allowing us to safely remove the upstream tool calls.

Additional Context

No response

Contributor guide

Research direction
Examine the test structure in the repository and identify which tools invoke DPL unnecessarily. Then, create a reusable intermediate ODB file from the common prerequisite steps and update the regression tests to use that file directly.
Tech stack
None
Domain
backenddatabasetoolingtesting
Issue type
Test
DifficultyEstimated implementation difficulty for a new contributor, from 1 for very small changes to 5 for expert-level work.
3
Estimated timeA rough time range for an experienced contributor to investigate, implement, test, and prepare a pull request.
1-2 days
Activity statusHow available the issue appears right now: fresh, active, stale, blocked, or waiting on maintainer input.
Active
ClarityHow clearly the issue explains the expected change, acceptance criteria, and next step.
Clear
Prerequisites
Test infrastructureODB format
Newbie friendlinessA 1-100 score estimating how approachable this issue is for first-time contributors.
40