Gdshelpers is an open-source Python package developed to facilitate the design of photonic integrated circuits. It enables designers to create design files using intuitive code and offers features that meet most designers' needs, ensuring flexibility in design. The package stands out for its high performance across various platforms and applications, making design processes faster and adaptable to different fabrication technologies. Gdshelpers simplifies photonic integrated circuit design with a modular and flexible approach. It allows the creation and adaptation of standard building blocks, facilitating project sharing and adjustment to different fabrication processes. Its open-source nature fosters user collaboration, promoting community growth and accelerating innovation in photonic technologies.

The target market for Gdshelpers includes photonic chip designers, such as researchers, engineers, and designers, who face challenges such as limited access to flexible, scalable design tools, high costs of commercial software, and difficulties in adapting to evolving fabrication processes. The market demand is driven by the need for tools that make photonic chip design more efficient, a growing field due to the demand for advanced solutions in telecommunications, quantum computing, neuromorphic computing, and biomedical applications. Photonic chips offer high-speed data transmission for telecommunications, enable precise control of quantum states for quantum computing, contribute to fast matrix-vector multiplication operations in neuromorphic computing, and provide sensitive optical detection for biomedical imaging, addressing the specific needs in these fields. Practical examples include use by academic institutions and research projects for photonic integrated circuit design, the development of chips for optical communication systems, and the design of components for quantum computing and neuromorphic computing. Additionally, the software is applicable in biophotonics and medical imaging. 

Designing photonic integrated circuits (PICs) is complex due to the intricate nature of photonic components, which require precise alignment, integration, and validation of multiple optical and electronic elements. This complexity necessitates specialised software for generating accurate fabrication files that meet stringent performance requirements. Current tools lack the flexibility to handle diverse building block geometries across platforms, hindering designers from creating customised solutions. Without an adequate solution, the design process is inefficient and costly, resulting in delays, resource wastage, and limited innovation due to the inability to rapidly iterate and test new designs. Researchers and engineers face significant pressure, slowing progress in photonics. An ideal solution would streamline customization of building blocks, enabling rapid innovation by allowing designers to quickly adjust and optimise components, and reducing costs by minimising manual redesign efforts and material waste. HYBRAIN's approach bridges the gap by providing software that allows easy customization and integrates seamlessly with existing workflows, transforming PIC design into an efficient, adaptable process.

HYBRAIN's solution, Gdshelpers, helps researchers and designers develop PICs using an intuitive interface. The software, implemented in Python, allows users to define photonic structures and generate design files. Python was chosen for its accessibility, flexibility, and extensive ecosystem of libraries, which benefit users by simplifying code development, enhancing prototyping speed, and enabling integration with other software tools. The user interface, whether graphical or command-line, supports an efficient design process. The open-source nature of Gdshelpers on GitHub promotes transparency, collaboration, and customization. Comprehensive documentation, examples, and community support enhance usability, allowing users to fully exploit its capabilities. HYBRAIN's solution makes PIC design more efficient, reducing time and effort while fostering innovation and cost savings, ultimately advancing photonic device development within research and engineering communities

HYBRAIN, with its Gdshelpers tool, provides an advanced solution for photonic integrated circuit (PIC) design. Its open-source framework enhances accessibility, reducing barriers for designers. Customisable geometries and a modular interface facilitate adaptation to various fabrication technologies, making PIC design efficient. Community support and comprehensive documentation help users maximise the impact of using the platform, driving innovation.