Autonomous Evolution of EDA Tools: Multi-Agent Self-Evolved ABC
On the map: LLM agents and tool use → General LLM agent frameworks and benchmarks
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Abstract (arXiv)
This paper introduces the first self-evolving logic synthesis framework, which leverages Large Language Model (LLM) agents to autonomously improve the source code of textscABC, the widely adopted logic synthesis system. Our framework operates on the entire integrated ABC codebase, and the output repository preserves its single-binary execution model and command interface. In the initial evolution cycle, we bootstrap the system using existing prior open-source synthesis components, covering flow tuning, logic minimization, and technology mapping, but without manually injecting new heuristics. On top of this foundation, a team of LLM-based agents iteratively rewrites and evolves specific sub-components of ABC following our ``programming guidance`` prompts under a unified correctness and QoR-driven evaluation loop. Each evolution cycle proposes code modifications, compiles the integrated binary, validates correctness, and evaluates quality-of-results (QoR) on multi-suite benchmarks including ISCAS~85/89/99, VTR, EPFL, and IWLS~2005. Through continuous feedback, the system discovers optimizations beyond human-designed heuristics, effectively learning new synthesis strategies that enhance QoR. We detail the architecture of this self-improving system, its integration with textscABC, and results demonstrating that the framework can autonomously and progressively improve EDA tool at full million-line scale.
Key facts. Cited by 6 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Placed in General LLM agent frameworks and benchmarks, one of 16 directions in LLM agents and tool use. Builds on 6 of its 25 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 16 Apr 2026.
Builds on
6 of 25 references.
References · 6
- 2021Evaluating Large Language Models Trained on Codecited by 8,053
- 2022Competition-Level Code Generation with AlphaCodecited by 1,427
- 2025AlphaEvolve: A coding agent for scientific and algorithmic discoverycited by 763
- 2018Developing Synthesis Flows Without Human Knowledgecited by 29
- 2025Autonomous Code Evolution Meets NP-Completenesscited by 14
- 2022FlowTune: End-to-end Automatic Logic Optimization Exploration via Domain-specific Multi-armed Banditcited by 10
Built on by
Citing papers per year: 2026: 6.
6 papers.
- 2026Agentic Hardware Design as Repository-Level Code Evolutioncited by 6
- 2026Arbor: Tree Search as a Cognition Layer for Autonomous Agentscited by 0
- 2026Agentic Electronic Design Automation: A Handoff Perspectivecited by 0
- 2026EDATracer: An Agentic Framework for Large-Scale EDA Artifact Analysiscited by 0
- 2026GoalEvolve: From Handcrafted Algorithm Priors to Goal-Driven Evolution of Physical Design Algorithmscited by 0
- 2026Loreley: Repository-Scale Program Evolution with Quality-Diversity Searchcited by 0
- 2026Loreley: Repository-Scale Program Evolution with Quality-Diversity Search20 Aug 2026
- 2026GoalEvolve: From Handcrafted Algorithm Priors to Goal-Driven Evolution of Physical Design Algorithms17 Aug 2026
- 2026EDATracer: An Agentic Framework for Large-Scale EDA Artifact Analysis2 Aug 2026
- 2026Agentic Hardware Design as Repository-Level Code Evolution26 Jun 2026
- 2026Agentic Electronic Design Automation: A Handoff Perspective18 Jun 2026
- 2026Arbor: Tree Search as a Cognition Layer for Autonomous Agents10 Jun 2026
Similar, not cited
Close in wording, no citation either way
- 2026From Atomic Actions to Standard Operating Procedures: Iterative Tool Optimization for Self-Evolving LLM Agents
- 2026PACE: Two-Timescale Self-Evolution for Small Language Model Agents
- 2026Towards AGI A Pragmatic Approach Towards Self Evolving Agent
- 2026SKILL: Self-correcting Knowledge-guided Iterative Large Language Model Agent for Logic Optimization
- 2026EvoMAS: Evolutionary Generation of Multi-Agent Systems
- 2026SEVerA: Verified Synthesis of Self-Evolving Agents
- 2025CATArena: Evaluating Evolutionary Capabilities of Code Agents via Iterative Tournaments
- 2025A Survey of Self-Evolving Agents: What, When, How, and Where to Evolve on the Path to Artificial Super Intelligence