card
A logical SPICE input line. A card may be extended through the use
of the `+' sign in SPICE, thereby allowing it to take up multiple
lines in a SPICE deck.
code
model A model of a device, function, component, etc. which is based
solely on a C programming language-based function. In addition to
the code models included with the XSPICE option of the ngspice
simulator, you can use code models that you develop for circuit
modeling.
deck
A collection of SPICE cards that together specify all input
information required in order to perform an analysis. A `deck' of
`cards' will in fact be contained within a file on the host
computer system.
element
card A single, logical line in an ngspice circuit deck that
describes a circuit element. Circuit elements are connected to each
other to form circuits (e.g., a logical card that describes a
resistor, such as R1 2 0 10K, is an element card).
instance
A unique occurrence of a circuit element. See `element card', in
which the instance R1 is specified as a unique element (instance) in
a hypothetical circuit description.
macro
A macro, in the context of this document, refers to a C language
macro that supports the construction of user-defined models by
simplifying input/output and parameter-passing operations within the
Model Definition File.
.mod
Refers to the Model Definition File in XSPICE. The file suffix
reflects the file-name of the model definition file: cfunc.mod.
.model
Refers to a model card associated with an element card in ngspice. A
model card allows for data defining an instance to be conveniently
located in the ngspice deck such that the general layout of the
elements is more readable.
Nutmeg
The ngspice default post-processor. This provides a simple
stand-alone simulator interface that can be used with the ngspice
simulator to display and plot simulator raw files.
subcircuit
A `device' within an ngspice deck that is defined in terms of a
group of element cards and that can be referenced in other parts of
the ngspice deck through element cards.