D42 — Opt-in connector edge attraction by axis anchor

Decision

Connector edge attraction is an opt-in placement objective (--edge-attraction): a one-pin pseudo-net from the connector body point nearest to the outline to the nearest outline segment's axis (x for a vertical segment, y for a horizontal one), weight 2 × signal; pin headers and sockets are not pulled

Alternatives

A virtual fixed part at the nearest outline point; a separate distance-to-polygon term in the cost

Reason

An axis anchor is exact in the integer HPWL the annealer already maintains incrementally (no new cost term to keep in sync), does not pin the connector to one point along the edge, and penalises rotating the mating side inwards; headers are mostly board-to-board or jumpers (CONN-01 note)