virtuoso-bridge-lite

MCP serverCommunity

A Python bridge and optional MCP server that run SKILL in a live Virtuoso and launch Spectre, locally or over SSH. By Arcadia-1.

1k starsUpdated 1 day agoGitHub data from 5 Nov 2026

At a glance

Type: MCP server
Works with: Cadence Virtuoso
How it connects: Drives a running copy of the tool
Access: Can modify models
Tool versions: unknown (the remote setup example loads cadence/ic_23.1)
Operating systems: Windows, macOS, Linux
Needs a Cadence Virtuoso licence: Yes
Transport: Local (stdio)
AI clients documented: Claude Code, Cursor
Licence: MIT
Language: Python

What it can do

Runs SKILL inside a chosen Virtuoso process through a daemon you load from the CIW, reached over an SSH tunnel or locally on Linux.
MCP tools cover raw SKILL, library and cell inspection, PDK lookup, schematic editing and checks, Maestro test runs, standalone Spectre runs and PSF waveform reading.
Waveform and screenshot tools return PNG previews along with numeric statistics.
Exposes the repository's skills through the MCP skills extension and as resources.

Limitations

Virtuoso must run on Linux; Windows and macOS clients connect over SSH.
SKILL calls are never retried automatically after a timeout, and replacing an existing schematic view needs an explicit replace=true.
PDK lookup tools see the MCP server's local filesystem only, not libraries that exist only on the remote host.

Install

git clone https://github.com/Arcadia-1/virtuoso-bridge-lite.git
cd virtuoso-bridge-lite
uv venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate
uv pip install -e .

virtuoso-bridge init user@host   # write ~/.virtuoso-bridge/.env
virtuoso-bridge start            # prepare fixed-port setup and the SSH tunnel
# Paste the printed load("...") into the intended idle CIW.
virtuoso-bridge status

Source: github.com/Arcadia-1/virtuoso-bridge-lite

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vb": {
      "command": "/path/to/.venv/bin/python",
      "args": ["/path/to/virtuoso-bridge-lite/mcp_server.py"],
      "env": {
        "VB_REMOTE_HOST": "localhost",
        "VB_WORK_DIR": "/path/to/agent/work",
        "VB_PDK_ROOTS": "/path/to/pdks",
        "VB_CDS_LIB": "/path/to/work/cds.lib",
        "VB_SAFE_ROOTS": "",
        "VB_DOC_ROOTS": "",
        "LD_LIBRARY_PATH": "/path/to/cadence/INVS152/tools.lnx86/inca/lib/64bit"
      }
    }
  }
}

Source: github.com/Arcadia-1/virtuoso-bridge-lite/blob/main/mcp/mcp.example.json

MCP servers and skills run code on your computer. Review the source before installing.

Skills that come with it

SkillCommunity

virtuoso-bridge skillsby Arcadia-1

Five skills for Virtuoso and Spectre work, from SKILL and layout to netlist cleanup and optimisation.

Windows, macOS, LinuxNeeds a Cadence Virtuoso licence1k· updated 1 day ago

AI-generated models, drawings and results must be checked by a qualified engineer before use.