---
id: gdsfactoryplus
version: "1.8.20"
license: PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL
license_treatment: unclear
maintenance: active
---

# gdsfactoryplus — GDSFactory+: adds powerful features such as foundry PDKs, simulations, and verification tools like DRC and LVS.

License: unclear · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 166.5K/mo

## What it is and what it does

GDSFactory+ is a specialized extension to the GDSFactory library for electronic design automation and photonics. It adds production-ready features including foundry process design kits (PDKs), integrated circuit simulation, and verification tools such as design rule checking (DRC) and layout-versus-schematic (LVS) comparison. The package targets researchers and engineers working on photonic and electronic circuit design who need both simulation and verification capabilities beyond the base GDSFactory toolkit.

The package carries medium install friction due to its 34 runtime dependencies, which include numerical computing (jax, numpy), visualization (bokeh, altair), and specialized EDA tools (klayout, elvis-lvs). It is pinned to Python 3.12 and receives active maintenance. The proprietary license status creates uncertainty around commercial use; the terms are not publicly specified in standard SPDX form.

Use it for:

- Design and verify photonic integrated circuits using foundry-specific design rules and PDKs
- Run circuit simulations and extract netlists for layout verification workflows
- Perform automated DRC checks on GDS layouts against foundry design rule decks
- Compare layouts against schematics (LVS) to detect wiring and connectivity errors
- Integrate with existing GDSFactory-based design flows for end-to-end EDA automation

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

GDSFactory+ extends the GDSFactory library with foundry PDKs, simulation capabilities, and verification tools including DRC and LVS for electronic design automation and photonics workflows.

Yes, if you are actively developing photonic or electronic circuits and need integrated DRC/LVS verification and simulation within a Python workflow. The active maintenance and recent release are positive signals. However, clarify the proprietary license terms with the vendor before production use, and confirm Python 3.12 compatibility with your environment. The large dependency footprint may require careful environment management.

## Install

pip install gdsfactoryplus
uv add gdsfactoryplus
poetry add gdsfactoryplus

## Installing gdsfactoryplus

Before you install: Medium install friction due to 34 runtime dependencies including compiled packages like jax, klayout, and elvis-lvs. Active maintenance with a release 2 days old. Requires Python 3.12 specifically.

License in practice: License is marked PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL with no SPDX identifier. Terms of use and redistribution rights are unclear; review the vendor's licensing terms before integrating into production or commercial workflows.

Quickstart:

pip install gdsfactoryplus
import gdsfactoryplus
# Access foundry PDKs, DRC/LVS tools, and simulation features through the gdsfactoryplus API

Requires Python 3.12 exactly (~=3.12.0); incompatible with other Python versions. Large dependency footprint including jax and klayout may require system libraries.

Verify before relying:

- Specific API surface and which foundry PDKs are included in version 1.8.20
- Whether proprietary license permits commercial use or requires separate licensing agreement
- Performance characteristics and scalability limits for large layout verification tasks
- Integration requirements with existing GDSFactory installations and version compatibility

## Package facts

- License: PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL (unclear)
- Python support: capped_below_current
- Install friction: medium
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 166.5K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

photonic design automation, DRC LVS verification tools, foundry PDK library, circuit simulation EDA, GDS layout verification, photonics simulation, design rule checking, eda, photonics, verification

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/gdsfactoryplus) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/gdsfactoryplus/)