Ngspice

Ngspice

Ngspice is an open-source circuit simulator for electronics and semiconductors. It allows analyzing, modeling, and testing analog, digital and mixed-signal circuits with over 500 spice models of MOSFETs, BJTs, diodes, transformers, etc.
Ngspice image
electronics semiconductors circuit-simulation spice-models analog-circuits digital-circuits mixedsignal-circuits

Ngspice: Open-Source Circuit Simulator for Electronics & Semiconductors

Ngspice is an open-source circuit simulator for electronics and semiconductors. It allows analyzing, modeling, and testing analog, digital and mixed-signal circuits with over 500 spice models of MOSFETs, BJTs, diodes, transformers, etc.

What is Ngspice?

Ngspice is an open-source circuit simulator for electronics and semiconductors. It is used for the simulation and analysis of analog, digital and mixed-signal circuits at the transistor and gate level. Ngspice is a successor to the popular Spice3 simulator and aims to improve upon it in several areas.

Some key features of Ngspice include:

  • Simulation of over 500 spice models for transistors, diodes, transformers, transmission lines, and other components
  • Analysis of analog, digital, and mixed signal circuits
  • Advanced analyses modes like DC, AC, transient, Fourier, noise, etc.
  • Scriptable via a command line interface or batch files
  • Model parameter sweeping and optimization
  • Import/export of netlists and raw data
  • Integrated plotting and waveform viewer
  • Free and open-source under GPL license

Ngspice is commonly used in circuit design, semiconductor device modeling, analog filter design, power electronics, and RF/wireless systems. Its open-source nature allows developers to easily extend and customize it as per their needs. Ngspice can help verify circuit performance before prototyping, reducing development costs.

Ngspice Features

Features

  1. SPICE circuit simulator
  2. Supports digital, analog and mixed-mode circuits
  3. Has an extensive model library
  4. Supports PSpice compatible models
  5. Has a graphical waveform viewer
  6. Can generate netlists from schematics
  7. Has Monte Carlo and worst-case analysis
  8. Can do DC, AC, Transient and Fourier analysis

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Free and open source

Powerful simulation capabilities

Large model library

Compatible with many SPICE models

Good for learning circuit simulation

Cons

Steep learning curve

Limited documentation and support

No integrated schematic editor

User interface is not very intuitive


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