Static timing analysis, animated

Watch the slack animate.

A static timing analysis visualizer built for VLSI students. Trace paths through the design, watch slacks animate in real time, and learn setup and hold with diagrams that move.

Platform

STA, the way your textbook explains it.

A focused tool for learning static timing analysis — not a commercial-grade sign-off engine. The same math, the same models, the same visual language, just at a pace a student can keep up with.

Annotated timing diagrams

Each path renders as a diagram with annotated delays, slack, and arrival/required windows — the way the textbook draws them, but interactive.

Multi-corner analysis

Trace the same path across SS, TT, FF, and SF corners in one click. See how slack moves with PVT — the thing you can't learn from a single waveform.

Standard file imports

Drop in a Liberty (.lib), SDF, or SPEF and TimingLyzer reads it. No proprietary file formats, no schema to learn.

Setup, hold, recovery, removal

All four timing checks, with the formulas visible on the diagram. Hover any cell to see the equation; click to pin the explanation.

Plain-language explanations

Every check, every corner, every glitch has a one-paragraph explainer that says what it is, why it matters, and how to fix it. No jargon for jargon's sake.

Side-by-side scenarios

Compare two pipelines, two corners, or two fixes in a split view. The fastest way to develop intuition for what actually changes the slack number.

Workflow

From spec to timing closure, illustrated.

i

Import your design

Upload a synthesized netlist, a Liberty file, and (optionally) an SDF. TimingLyzer parses them and builds the timing graph automatically.

ii

Pick the paths you care about

Search by start point, end point, or slack. The path list updates as you type, and each path gets a one-line summary in the side panel.

iii

Trace, animate, fix

Open the path. The diagram animates — data arrival, required window, slack — and highlights exactly where the timing is failing.

WHAT YOU GET · WHAT YOU DON'T

An STA tool, itemized

Included in every plan

  • All four timing checks — setup, hold, recovery, removal
  • Annotated, animated timing diagrams
  • Multi-corner analysis (SS, TT, FF, SF out of the box)
  • Liberty (.lib), SDF, and SPEF import
  • Plain-language explanations of every check and corner
  • Side-by-side scenario compare
  • Standard file formats you can round-trip with commercial tools

Not included, not hidden

  • Sign-off-grade analysis — we'll say so, use a commercial tool for that
  • Full multi-domain CDC analysis — out of scope, we'll point you to the right tools
  • Per-design metering or hidden gates on what you can run
  • "Premium" corner packages held back from the basics
  • Proprietary file formats you can't take elsewhere
  • Auto-saving your proprietary netlist to our servers
  • Real-time customer support on the free plan that we promise but can't deliver
Pricing

Free for students. Honest for everyone else.

No "premium" corner, no per-path metering, no enterprise tier that gates the basics.

Student

For verified students at any level.
$0/mo
free for verified students
  • All four timing checks
  • 4-corner analysis
  • Liberty / SDF / SPEF import
  • 3 active projects
Verify & start

Classroom

For instructors running a course or lab section.
$6/student/semester
annual billing · min 10 students
  • Everything in Pro
  • Private classroom
  • Custom problem sets
  • Aggregate analytics
  • LTI integration
Set up a class
FAQ

Common questions, honest answers.

Is this a sign-off-grade STA tool?

No. TimingLyzer is a learning tool — it implements the same algorithms at a scale a student can read, trace, and learn from. For tape-out sign-off, use a commercial tool. We'll be honest about that boundary.

Which file formats are supported?

Liberty (.lib) for cell libraries, SDF for back-annotation, and SPEF for parasitics. Verilog netlists are imported for path tracing. We support the standard subsets used in academic and small-team projects.

Does it handle clock-domain crossing?

Basic CDC checks (recovery and removal) are supported on Pro and above. Full multi-domain CDC analysis is out of scope for a learning tool — we point you toward the right commercial tools when you outgrow us.

Can I round-trip with my university toolchain?

Yes — Liberty, SDF, and SPEF are standards-based, so you can round-trip with any commercial tool. We don't have a proprietary format to convert.

How is the student discount verified?

Through our education partner — a one-time check using your school email or enrollment document. The free plan renews automatically as long as you're a student.

What about my proprietary netlist?

Everything runs in your browser by default. Designs save to your local machine or to a private workspace you control. We never see your netlist unless you explicitly share it.

Watch the slack animate. It clicks, finally.

Free for verified students. Free to try for everyone else. No credit card, no demo required.