The-OpenROAD-Project · joaomai · Sep 1, 2026 · Sep 1, 2026 · Sep 1, 2026
diff --git a/docs/user/FlowVariables.md b/docs/user/FlowVariables.md
@@ -181,10 +181,8 @@ configuration file.
 | <a name="LEC_CHECK"></a>LEC_CHECK| Perform a formal equivalence check between before and after netlists. If this fails, report an issue to OpenROAD.| 0|
 | <a name="LIB_FILES"></a>LIB_FILES| A Liberty file of the standard cell library with PVT characterization, input and output characteristics, timing and power definitions for each cell.| |
 | <a name="LIB_MODEL"></a>LIB_MODEL| Selects between NLDM and CCS timing models for the ASAP7 platform. Valid values: NLDM (default), CCS. Used in flow/platforms/asap7/config.mk to pick the LIB_DIR subdirectory and accumulate the corresponding $(CORNER)_$(LIB_MODEL)_LIB_FILES list, and in flow/scripts/load.tcl to gate CCS-specific Tcl branches.| NLDM|
-| <a name="MACRO_BLOCKAGE_HALO"></a>MACRO_BLOCKAGE_HALO| Distance beyond the edges of a macro that will also be covered by the blockage generated for that macro. Note that the default macro blockage halo comes from the largest of the specified MACRO_PLACE_HALO x or y values. This variable overrides that calculation.| |
 | <a name="MACRO_EXTENSION"></a>MACRO_EXTENSION| Sets the number of GCells added to the blockages boundaries from macros.| |
 | <a name="MACRO_PLACEMENT_TCL"></a>MACRO_PLACEMENT_TCL| Specifies the path of a TCL file on how to place macros manually. The user may choose to place just some of the macros in the design. The macro placer will handle the remaining unplaced macros.| |
-| <a name="MACRO_PLACE_HALO"></a>MACRO_PLACE_HALO| Horizontal/vertical halo around macros (microns). Used by automatic macro placement.| |
 | <a name="MACRO_ROWS_HALO_X"></a>MACRO_ROWS_HALO_X| Horizontal distance between the edge of the macro and the beginning of the rows created by tapcell. Only available for ASAP7 PDK and GF180/uart-blocks design.| |
 | <a name="MACRO_ROWS_HALO_Y"></a>MACRO_ROWS_HALO_Y| Vertical distance between the edge of the macro and the beginning of the rows created by tapcell. Only available for ASAP7 PDK and GF180/uart-blocks design.| |
 | <a name="MACRO_WRAPPERS"></a>MACRO_WRAPPERS| The wrapper file that replaces existing macros with their wrapped version.| |
@@ -265,10 +263,12 @@ configuration file.
 | <a name="RTLMP_MAX_LEVEL"></a>RTLMP_MAX_LEVEL| Maximum depth of the physical hierarchy tree.| 2|
 | <a name="RTLMP_MAX_MACRO"></a>RTLMP_MAX_MACRO| Maximum number of macros in a cluster. If unset, rtl_macro_placer will calculate a value based on the design attributes.| |
 | <a name="RTLMP_MIN_AR"></a>RTLMP_MIN_AR| Specifies the minimum aspect ratio (height/width).| 0.33|
+| <a name="RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE"></a>RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE| Minimum channel width and height between macros (microns), given as one value for both, or two values "width height".| |
 | <a name="RTLMP_MIN_INST"></a>RTLMP_MIN_INST| Minimum number of standard cells in a cluster. If unset, rtl_macro_placer will calculate a value based on the design attributes.| |
 | <a name="RTLMP_MIN_MACRO"></a>RTLMP_MIN_MACRO| Minimum number of macros in a cluster. If unset, rtl_macro_placer will calculate a value based on the design attributes.| |
 | <a name="RTLMP_NOTCH_WT"></a>RTLMP_NOTCH_WT| Weight for the notch, or the existence of dead space that cannot be used for placement and routing.| 50.0|
 | <a name="RTLMP_OUTLINE_WT"></a>RTLMP_OUTLINE_WT| Weight for violating the fixed outline constraint, meaning that all clusters should be placed within the shape of their parent cluster.| 100.0|
+| <a name="RTLMP_PIN_AWARE_CHANNELS"></a>RTLMP_PIN_AWARE_CHANNELS| Set to 1 to trim macro channels based on the pin locations of macros, instead of using full channels. Requires RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE to also be set. Defaults to 1 whenever RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE is set and this variable is not explicitly set to 0.| 0|
 | <a name="RTLMP_RPT_DIR"></a>RTLMP_RPT_DIR| Path to the directory where reports are saved.| |
 | <a name="RTLMP_WIRELENGTH_WT"></a>RTLMP_WIRELENGTH_WT| Weight for half-perimiter wirelength.| 100.0|
 | <a name="RULES_JSON"></a>RULES_JSON| json files with the metrics baseline regression rules. In the ORFS Makefile, this defaults to $DESIGN_DIR/rules-base.json, but ORFS does not mandate the users source directory layout and this can be placed elsewhere when the user sets up an ORFS config.mk or from bazel-orfs.| |
@@ -408,9 +408,7 @@ configuration file.
 - [FOOTPRINT_TCL](#FOOTPRINT_TCL)
 - [HOLD_SLACK_MARGIN](#HOLD_SLACK_MARGIN)
 - [IO_CONSTRAINTS](#IO_CONSTRAINTS)
-- [MACRO_BLOCKAGE_HALO](#MACRO_BLOCKAGE_HALO)
 - [MACRO_PLACEMENT_TCL](#MACRO_PLACEMENT_TCL)
-- [MACRO_PLACE_HALO](#MACRO_PLACE_HALO)
 - [MACRO_ROWS_HALO_X](#MACRO_ROWS_HALO_X)
 - [MACRO_ROWS_HALO_Y](#MACRO_ROWS_HALO_Y)
 - [MACRO_WRAPPERS](#MACRO_WRAPPERS)
@@ -444,10 +442,12 @@ configuration file.
 - [RTLMP_MAX_LEVEL](#RTLMP_MAX_LEVEL)
 - [RTLMP_MAX_MACRO](#RTLMP_MAX_MACRO)
 - [RTLMP_MIN_AR](#RTLMP_MIN_AR)
+- [RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE](#RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE)
 - [RTLMP_MIN_INST](#RTLMP_MIN_INST)
 - [RTLMP_MIN_MACRO](#RTLMP_MIN_MACRO)
 - [RTLMP_NOTCH_WT](#RTLMP_NOTCH_WT)
 - [RTLMP_OUTLINE_WT](#RTLMP_OUTLINE_WT)
+- [RTLMP_PIN_AWARE_CHANNELS](#RTLMP_PIN_AWARE_CHANNELS)
 - [RTLMP_RPT_DIR](#RTLMP_RPT_DIR)
 - [RTLMP_WIRELENGTH_WT](#RTLMP_WIRELENGTH_WT)
 - [SETUP_MOVE_SEQUENCE](#SETUP_MOVE_SEQUENCE)

diff --git a/flow/designs/asap7/aes-block/config.mk b/flow/designs/asap7/aes-block/config.mk
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export GND_NETS_VOLTAGES      =
 export PWR_NETS_VOLTAGES      =
 
 # The macros are very small so use a smaller halo
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO        ?= 3 3
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE  ?= 6 6
 
 export ROUTING_LAYER_ADJUSTMENT = 0.3
 export HOLD_SLACK_MARGIN        = -30
diff --git a/flow/designs/asap7/coralnpu/config.mk b/flow/designs/asap7/coralnpu/config.mk
@@ -24,5 +24,5 @@ export CORE_UTILIZATION        = 65
 export SYNTH_HIERARCHICAL      = 1
 export SYNTH_MINIMUM_KEEP_SIZE = 40000
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 2 2
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 4 4
 
diff --git a/flow/designs/asap7/cva6/config.mk b/flow/designs/asap7/cva6/config.mk
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ export SDC_FILE               = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NAME)/constr
 
 export CORE_UTILIZATION       = 70
 export CORE_MARGIN            = 2
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO       = 5 5
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 10 10
 export PLACE_DENSITY          = 0.69
 
 # a smoketest for this option, there are a

diff --git a/flow/designs/asap7/riscv32i/config.mk b/flow/designs/asap7/riscv32i/config.mk
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ export CORE_MARGIN      = 5
 export PLACE_DENSITY_LB_ADDON = 0.10
 
 export IO_CONSTRAINTS     = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NICKNAME)/io.tcl
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO    = 4 4
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 8 8
 
 export TNS_END_PERCENT   = 100
 

diff --git a/flow/designs/asap7/tinyRocket/config.mk b/flow/designs/asap7/tinyRocket/config.mk
@@ -25,6 +25,6 @@ export CORE_UTILIZATION = 40
 export CORE_MARGIN      = 2
 
 export PLACE_DENSITY_LB_ADDON = 0.10
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 2 2
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 4 4
 
 export TNS_END_PERCENT = 100
diff --git a/flow/designs/gf12/ariane/config.mk b/flow/designs/gf12/ariane/config.mk
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export PLACE_DENSITY ?= 0.50
 
 export IO_CONSTRAINTS  = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NICKNAME)/io.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 10 10 
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 20 20 
 export MACRO_WRAPPERS = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NICKNAME)/wrappers.tcl
 
 ifeq ($(USE_FILL),1)

diff --git a/flow/designs/gf12/ariane133/config.mk b/flow/designs/gf12/ariane133/config.mk
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ export CORE_AREA   = 5 5 895 745
 
 export IO_CONSTRAINTS     = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NICKNAME)/io.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 10 10
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 20 20
 
 export PLACE_DENSITY_LB_ADDON = 0.05
 

diff --git a/flow/designs/gf12/bp_dual/config.mk b/flow/designs/gf12/bp_dual/config.mk
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ export MACRO_WRAPPERS = $(PLATFORM_DIR)/bp/wrappers/wrappers.tcl
 
 export PDN_TCL = $(PLATFORM_DIR)/cfg/pdn_grid_strategy_13m_9T.top.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 5 5
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 10 10
 
 export OPT_POST_GRT_WNS = 0
 
diff --git a/flow/designs/gf12/bp_quad/config.mk b/flow/designs/gf12/bp_quad/config.mk
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ export MACRO_WRAPPERS = $(PLATFORM_DIR)/bp/wrappers/wrappers.tcl
 
 export PDN_TCL = $(PLATFORM_DIR)/cfg/pdn_grid_strategy_13m_9T.top.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 21 21
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 42 42
 
 export OPT_POST_GRT_WNS = 0
 
diff --git a/flow/designs/gf12/bp_single/config.mk b/flow/designs/gf12/bp_single/config.mk
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ export RTLMP_FENCE_LX = 850
 export RTLMP_FENCE_LY = 850
 export RTLMP_FENCE_UX = 2150
 export RTLMP_FENCE_UY = 2150
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 29 29
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 58 58
 
 export PDN_TCL = $(PLATFORM_DIR)/cfg/pdn_grid_strategy_13m_9T.top.tcl
 export FASTROUTE_TCL = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NICKNAME)/fastroute.tcl

diff --git a/flow/designs/gf12/ca53/config.mk b/flow/designs/gf12/ca53/config.mk
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ export PLACE_DENSITY_LB_ADDON = 0.05
 
 export IO_CONSTRAINTS     = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/ca53/io.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 10 10
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 20 20
 
 export MACRO_WRAPPERS = $(DESIGN_DIR)/wrappers.tcl
 

diff --git a/flow/designs/gf12/swerv_wrapper/config.mk b/flow/designs/gf12/swerv_wrapper/config.mk
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export IO_CONSTRAINTS     = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NAME)/io.tcl
 export PLACE_DENSITY_LB_ADDON = 0.05
 export MACRO_WRAPPERS = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NICKNAME)/wrappers.tcl
 #
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 9 9
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 18 18
 
 ifeq ($(USE_FILL),1)
 export DESIGN_TYPE = CELL

diff --git a/flow/designs/gf180/uart-blocks/config.mk b/flow/designs/gf180/uart-blocks/config.mk
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export CORE_AREA = 10 10 420 420
 
 export IO_CONSTRAINTS = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NICKNAME)/io.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 20 20
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 40 40
 
 export PDN_TCL = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NICKNAME)/BLOCKS_grid_strategy.tcl
 export PLACE_DENSITY          = 0.60

diff --git a/flow/designs/ihp-sg13g2/i2c-gpio-expander/config.mk b/flow/designs/ihp-sg13g2/i2c-gpio-expander/config.mk
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export MAX_ROUTING_LAYER = TopMetal2
 
 export TNS_END_PERCENT = 100
 export PLACE_DENSITY = 0.75
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 20 20
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 40 40
 export CORNERS = slow fast
 
 export IO_NORTH_PINS = sg13g2_IOPad_io_gpio_3 \

diff --git a/flow/designs/nangate45/ariane133/config.mk b/flow/designs/nangate45/ariane133/config.mk
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export CORE_MARGIN = 5
 
 export IO_CONSTRAINTS = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NICKNAME)/io.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO    = 8 8
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 16 16
 
 export SKIP_GATE_CLONING   = 1
 

diff --git a/flow/designs/nangate45/ariane136/config.mk b/flow/designs/nangate45/ariane136/config.mk
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export CORE_AREA   = 10 12 1448 1448
 
 export IO_CONSTRAINTS = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NICKNAME)/io.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 12 12
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 24 24
 
 export TNS_END_PERCENT = 100
 export PLACE_DENSITY = 0.35
diff --git a/flow/designs/nangate45/black_parrot/config.mk b/flow/designs/nangate45/black_parrot/config.mk
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ export PLACE_DENSITY_LB_ADDON = 0.05
 
 export MACRO_PLACEMENT_TCL = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NAME)/macro_placement.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO    = 15 15
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 30 30
 
 export TNS_END_PERCENT     = 100
 

diff --git a/flow/designs/nangate45/bp_be_top/config.mk b/flow/designs/nangate45/bp_be_top/config.mk
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ export CORE_AREA   = 10.07 11.2 790 690
 
 export IO_CONSTRAINTS = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NAME)/io.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 10 10
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 20 20
 
 export PLACE_DENSITY_LB_ADDON = 0.10
 export TNS_END_PERCENT        = 100

diff --git a/flow/designs/nangate45/bp_fe_top/config.mk b/flow/designs/nangate45/bp_fe_top/config.mk
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ export CORE_AREA   = 10 10 790 590
 export IO_CONSTRAINTS = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NAME)/io.tcl
 
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 10 10
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 20 20
 
 export PLACE_DENSITY_LB_ADDON = 0.11
 export TNS_END_PERCENT        = 100

diff --git a/flow/designs/nangate45/bp_multi_top/config.mk b/flow/designs/nangate45/bp_multi_top/config.mk
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export DIE_AREA    = 0 0 1100 1100
 export CORE_AREA   = 10.07 9.8 1090 1090
 export IO_CONSTRAINTS = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NAME)/io.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 20 20
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 40 40
 
 export PLACE_DENSITY_LB_ADDON = 0.05
 export SKIP_GATE_CLONING      = 1

diff --git a/flow/designs/nangate45/bp_quad/config.mk b/flow/designs/nangate45/bp_quad/config.mk
@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@ export CORE_AREA   = 10 12 3590 3590
 
 export IO_CONSTRAINTS = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NICKNAME)/io.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 10 10
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 20 20
diff --git a/flow/designs/nangate45/cva6/config.mk b/flow/designs/nangate45/cva6/config.mk
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ export SDC_FILE               = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NAME)/constr
 
 export CORE_UTILIZATION       = 60
 export CORE_MARGIN            = 2
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO       = 10 10
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 20 20
 export PLACE_DENSITY          = 0.75
 
 # a smoketest for this option, there are a

diff --git a/flow/designs/nangate45/mempool_group/config.mk b/flow/designs/nangate45/mempool_group/config.mk
@@ -75,6 +75,6 @@ export ADDITIONAL_LIBS = $(PLATFORM_DIR)/lib/fakeram45_256x32.lib \
 export DIE_AREA    = 0 0 1100 1100
 export CORE_AREA   = 10 12 1090 1090
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 10 10
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 20 20
 
 export SYNTH_HDL_FRONTEND = slang
diff --git a/flow/designs/nangate45/swerv_wrapper/config.mk b/flow/designs/nangate45/swerv_wrapper/config.mk
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export CORE_AREA   = 10.07 11.2 1090 990
 
 export IO_CONSTRAINTS = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NAME)/io.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 12 12
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 24 24
 
 export PLACE_DENSITY_LB_ADDON = 0.08
 export TNS_END_PERCENT        = 100

diff --git a/flow/designs/sky130hd/chameleon/config.mk b/flow/designs/sky130hd/chameleon/config.mk
@@ -49,4 +49,4 @@ export FP_PDN_RAIL_WIDTH  = 0.48
 export FP_PDN_RAIL_OFFSET = 0
 export TNS_END_PERCENT    = 100
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 35 35
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 70 70
diff --git a/flow/designs/sky130hd/microwatt/config.mk b/flow/designs/sky130hd/microwatt/config.mk
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ export SYNTH_HIERARCHICAL = 1
 
 export PLACE_DENSITY = 0.3
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 50 50
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 100 100
 
 # CTS tuning
 export CTS_BUF_DISTANCE = 600

diff --git a/flow/platforms/asap7/config.mk b/flow/platforms/asap7/config.mk
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ endif
 export IO_PLACER_H             ?= M4
 export IO_PLACER_V             ?= M5
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO        ?= 10 10
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE  ?= 20 20
 
 # the followings create a keep out / halo between
 # macro and core rows

diff --git a/flow/platforms/gf180/config.mk b/flow/platforms/gf180/config.mk
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ export PDN_TCL                               ?= $(PLATFORM_DIR)/openROAD/pdn/pdn
 export TAPCELL_TCL                           ?= $(PLATFORM_DIR)/openROAD/tapcell.tcl
 
 # macro planning
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO                      ?= 10 10
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE                ?= 20 20
 
 #---------------------------------------------------------
 # Place

diff --git a/flow/platforms/gt2n/config.mk b/flow/platforms/gt2n/config.mk
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ export TAPCELL_TCL ?= $(PLATFORM_DIR)/tapcell.tcl
 # (BPR pins only, half-width, no M1 shapes).
 export TAP_CELL_NAME = gt2_6t_tapbspdn_$(PRIMARY_WVT)
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO ?= 1.0 1.0
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE ?= 2.0 2.0
 
 #---------------------------------------------------------
 # Place

diff --git a/flow/platforms/ihp-sg13g2/config.mk b/flow/platforms/ihp-sg13g2/config.mk
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ export CORE_MARGIN ?= 17.5
 # `cut_rows` has to be called from the tapcell script.
 export TAPCELL_TCL ?= $(PLATFORM_DIR)/tapcell.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO ?= 40 40
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE ?= 80 80
 
 # Will be placed left to right
 export IO_NORTH_PINS ??=

diff --git a/flow/platforms/nangate45/config.mk b/flow/platforms/nangate45/config.mk
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export PDN_TCL ?= $(PLATFORM_DIR)/grid_strategy-M1-M4-M7.tcl
 export TAPCELL_TCL ?= $(PLATFORM_DIR)/tapcell.tcl
 export TAP_CELL_NAME = TAPCELL_X1
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO ?= 22.4 15.12
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE ?= 44.8 30.24
 
 #---------------------------------------------------------
 # Place

diff --git a/flow/platforms/sky130hd/config.mk b/flow/platforms/sky130hd/config.mk
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ export PDN_TCL ?= $(PLATFORM_DIR)/pdn.tcl
 export TAP_CELL_NAME = sky130_fd_sc_hd__tapvpwrvgnd_1
 export TAPCELL_TCL ?= $(PLATFORM_DIR)/tapcell.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO ?= 40 40
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE ?= 80 80
 
 #---------------------------------------------------------
 # Place

diff --git a/flow/platforms/sky130hs/config.mk b/flow/platforms/sky130hs/config.mk
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ export PDN_TCL ?= $(PLATFORM_DIR)/pdn.tcl
 export TAP_CELL_NAME = sky130_fd_sc_hs__tapvpwrvgnd_1
 export TAPCELL_TCL ?= $(PLATFORM_DIR)/tapcell.tcl
 
-export MACRO_PLACE_HALO ?= 40 40
+export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE ?= 80 80
 
 #---------------------------------------------------------
 # Place

diff --git a/flow/scripts/macro_place_util.tcl b/flow/scripts/macro_place_util.tcl
@@ -26,14 +26,6 @@ if { [find_macros] != "" } {
     }
   }
 
-  lassign $::env(MACRO_PLACE_HALO) halo_x halo_y
-  set halo_max [expr max($halo_x, $halo_y)]
-  set blockage_width $halo_max
-
-  if { [env_var_exists_and_non_empty MACRO_BLOCKAGE_HALO] } {
-    set blockage_width $::env(MACRO_BLOCKAGE_HALO)
-  }
-
   if { [env_var_exists_and_non_empty MACRO_PLACEMENT_TCL] } {
     log_cmd source $::env(MACRO_PLACEMENT_TCL)
   }
@@ -44,8 +36,16 @@ if { [find_macros] != "" } {
   append_env_var additional_rtlmp_args RTLMP_MIN_INST -min_num_inst 1
   append_env_var additional_rtlmp_args RTLMP_MAX_MACRO -max_num_macro 1
   append_env_var additional_rtlmp_args RTLMP_MIN_MACRO -min_num_macro 1
-  append additional_rtlmp_args " -halo_width $halo_x"
-  append additional_rtlmp_args " -halo_height $halo_y"
+
+  if {
+    [env_var_exists_and_non_empty RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE]
+    && ![env_var_exists_and_non_empty RTLMP_PIN_AWARE_CHANNELS]
+  } {
+    set ::env(RTLMP_PIN_AWARE_CHANNELS) 1
+  }
+  append_env_var additional_rtlmp_args RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE -min_channel_size 1
+  append_env_var additional_rtlmp_args RTLMP_PIN_AWARE_CHANNELS \
+    -pin_aware_channels 0
   append_env_var additional_rtlmp_args RTLMP_MIN_AR -min_ar 1
   append_env_var additional_rtlmp_args RTLMP_AREA_WT -area_weight 1
   append_env_var additional_rtlmp_args RTLMP_WIRELENGTH_WT -wirelength_weight 1
Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
Expand Up		@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@ export CORE_AREA = 10 12 3590 3590

		export IO_CONSTRAINTS = $(DESIGN_HOME)/$(PLATFORM)/$(DESIGN_NICKNAME)/io.tcl

		export MACRO_PLACE_HALO = 10 10
		export RTLMP_MIN_CHANNEL_SIZE = 20 20