Add library of useful functions for doing manual placement of cells

Description

It would be nice if the OpenROAD tool provides a set of functions to the TCL & Python scripting interface which made it quick and easy to do manual placement of a certain sets of cells.

Some ideas include;

• place_column -- Place the selected cells into a vertical column. Options could include;
  • packed for placing them as close together as possible.
  • equal for placing them equally distributed between top and bottom coordinates.
  • global for placing them in the rough locations which need to be legalized into actual valid positions.
  • legalize (or maybe detailed) for placing them directly into legalized positions.
• place_row -- Place the selected cells into a horizontal row
  • Same as place_column.
• place_array -- Place the selected cells into a grid / array pattern.
  • Same as place_column.

Some related functions could include;

• legalize_cells -- Legalize the set of cells into correct placements.
• route_net -- Route the selected set of nets.

This are likely to be very useful in things like;

• Automated analog like OpenFASoC
• Building blocks like DFFRAM does
• Distributing cells for wave style computation
• Placing input / output flops in certain locations
• Other things I haven't thought of

Suggested Solution

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Additional Context

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