An extensible data analysis system for analyzing integrated circuit
fabrication data produced during integrated circuit fabrication,
including an application tier that selectively runs analysis nodes. The
application tier has an architecture for optionally including and
excluding a desired selection of the analysis nodes. The application tier
architecture allows the selection of the analysis nodes to be dynamically
added by a user. A data access tier selectively runs data reader nodes.
The data access tier has an architecture for optionally including and
excluding a desired selection of the data reader nodes. The data reader
nodes interpret a desired variety of data source files containing the
integrated circuit fabrication data having different formats for access
by the application tier. The data access tier architecture allows the
selection of the data reader nodes to be dynamically added by the user.