Caltech Intermediate Form

Caltech Intermediate form ( CIF) is a machine- readable data interchange language for layout data in electronic design automation systems (EDA ) systems.

Developed the Caltech Intermediate form 1977-1981 at the California Institute of Technology of Carver Mead and Lynn Conway. Basic elements are colored polygons, circles, traces, and other symbols. A design can be structured hierarchically into each other nestable calls from repeated or library shares that can be transformed locally geometric if necessary. CIF is mainly used in higher education.

Y- CIF model covers the entire physical view. From the language developed the Electronic Design Interchange Format ( EDIF ).