1. A method comprising: receiving, by a processor from a user through a user interface, an inquiry regarding a feature, the feature being defined in a layout comprising multiple shapes; accessing, by the processor from a memory, process assumptions for a first technology node and design rules for a second technology node, the second technology node being newer than the first technology node and the process assumptions for the first technology node being used in the method as initial process assumptions for use during development of the second technology node; analyzing, by the processor, the layout to determine whether the layout complies with all of the design rules; and, when the layout fails to comply with at least one design rule, performing, by the processor, the following: selecting at least one fail mechanism associated with the design rule and at least one process assumption associated with the selected fail mechanism; generating multiple different images of the feature with different tolerances for and between the shapes given the selected process assumption; analyzing the images; and based on results of the analyzing, adjusting at least one of the selected process assumption for the second technology node and the design rule.