---
name: "klayout"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "klayout"
version: "0.30.0-1+b1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/klayout"
---

# klayout(1)

GDSII viewer

## NAME

**klayout** - GDSII viewer

## SYNOPSIS

```
klayout [options] [file] ..
```

## DESCRIPTION

**For viewing GDS files for production** *..* **silicon devices, klayout** *..* **probably one** *..* **the best open source tools out there.** **You can simply run** *..* **like this:**

```
    klayout name_of_gds
```

**and** *..* **will show you the GDS.**

## OPTIONS

- **-b**

  **Batch mode (same** *..* **-***..* **-***..* **-***..***)**

- **-c \<config *file*\>**

  **Use this configuration** *file*

- **-*..***

  **Don't use a configuration** *file* **(implies -t)**

- **-d \<debug level\>**

  **Set debug level**

- **-e**

  **Editable mode (allow editing** *..* **files)**

- **-*..***

  **Readonly mode (editing** *..* **files** *..* **disabled)**

- **-*..* \<*file* name\>**

  **Record GUI test** *file*

- **-*..* \<*file* name\>**

  **Replay GUI test** *file*

- **-*..* \<line number\>**

  **Replay GUI test** *file* *..* *..* **(including) line**

- **-*..* \<millisec\>**

  **Replay rate for GUI test** *file*

- **-*..***

  **Incremental logs for GUI test** *file*

- **-i**

  **Disable undo buffering (less memory requirements)**

- **-*..***

  **Enable undo buffering (default, overrides previous -i option)**

- **-j \<path\>**

  **Add the given path** *..* **the macro project paths**

- **-l \<lyp *file*\>**

  **Use layer properties** *file*

- **-*..***

  **With -l: add other layers** *..* **well**

- **-*..***

  **With -l: use the lyp** *file* *..* *..* *..* **(***..* **expansion** *..* **multiple layouts)**

- **-m \<database *file*\>**

  **Load RDB (report database)** *file* **(into previous layout view)**

- **-n \<technology\>**

  **Technology** *..* **use for next layout(s)** *..* **command line**

- **-*..* \<tech *file*\>**

  **Technology** *file* **(.lyt)** *..* **use for next layout(s)** *..* **command line**

- **-p \<plugin\>**

  **Load the plugin (can** *..* **used multiple times)**

- **-r \<script\>**

  **Execute main script** *..* **startup (after having loaded files etc.)**

- **-*..* \<script\>**

  **Execute module** *..* **startup (can** *..* **used multiple times)**

- **-*..* \<name\>=\<value\>**

  **Specify skript variable**

- **-*..***

  **Ignore all implicit macros (\*.rbm, rbainit, \*.lym)**

- **-s**

  **Load files into same view**

- **-t**

  **Don't update the configuration** *file* *..* **exit**

- **-*..***

  **Update the configuration** *file* *..* **exit (default, overrides previous -t option)**

- **-u \<*file* name\>**

  **Restore session from given** *file*

- **-v**

  **Print program version and exit**

- **-*..* \<name\>=\<value\>**

  **Define a variable within expressions**

- **-x**

  **Synchronous drawing mode**

- **-y \<package\>**

  **Package installation: install package(s) and exit - can** *..* **used more than once** **('package'** *..* **a name,** *..* **URL and optionally a version** *..* **round brackets)**

- **-*..***

  **With -y: include dependencies**

- **-z**

  **Non-GUI mode (hidden views)**

- **-*..***

  **Non-GUI mode (database only, implies -***..***)**

## AUTHOR

**This manual page was written** *..* **Ruben Undheim \<ruben.undheim@gmail.com\> for the Debian project (and may** *..* **used** *..* **others).**