Welcome to the Synopsys Journal – a quarterly publication for management, dedicated to covering the latest issues facing designers today.

Synopsys Journal – Issue 1, 2010
Embedded Multicore Design
In this issue of Synopsys Journal, we explore the impact that multicore is making on the industry, and focus on two aspects of the technology: embedded multicore systems, and multicore as an EDA tools platform. Dr. Handel H. Jones, Chief Executive, IBS, considers how design teams are adapting to the needs of multicore technology through a changing ecosystem. Lisa Su, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Networking and Multimedia, Freescale Semiconductor, provides a chip vendor’s perspective on the business and technology implications of multicore design. And Debra Martucci, Chief Information Officer, Synopsys, looks at the rise of multicore computing and considers the benefits of running EDA applications in the cloud. View full issue >>

Synopsys Journal – Issue 4, 2009
Managing the Total Cost of Design
In this issue, we have three independent perspectives on the economics of chip design. Dan Hutcheson, CEO of VLSI Research, thinks that the industry must retool its economic model for chip design and takes a fresh look at “design waste”. According to Takashi Yoshimori, Assistant Technology Executive of SoC Design at Semiconductor Company of Toshiba Corporation, deeper collaboration and complete subsystems are critical to his organization’s efforts to reduce design cost. And, Manoj Gandhi, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Synopsys’ Verification Group, considers the leading role that verification occupies in design cost growth, and suggests new collaboration approaches for improving the economics of verification. View full issue >>

Synopsys Journal – Issue 3, 2009
De-mystifying Analog Design
In this issue, we aim to de-mystify the art of analog design. Peter Frith, Wolfson Microelectronics’ Chief Technology Officer, explains how his team manages the conflicting demands of analog transistors and digital gates within the same system. Dr. Paul Lo, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Synopsys’ Analog/Mixed-signal Group, explains how standards will help shift the design of analog chips from an art to a managed discipline. And Joe Mastroianni, Synopsys’ Vice President of Analog/Mixed-signal R&D, believes that tool developers must help designers to use their intuition. View full issue >>

Synopsys Journal – Issue 2, 2009
Embedded Software and System Validation
In this issue, we explore the hardware/software validation conundrum. Our guest contributor, Rick Bahr, Atheros’ Vice President of Engineering, explains how his organization uses rapid prototyping to enable designers to bring up their systems within hour of receiving silicon. Gary Meyers, Vice president and General Manager, Synplicity Business Group, Synopsys, discusses the hardware-assisted verification technologies that Synopsys is backing. And Ken McElvain, our Vice President of Technology Strategy for the Synplicity Business Group, Synopsys, believes it’s time to stop thinking about hardware and software as separate entities. View full issue >>

Synopsys Journal – Issue 1, 2009
The Business of Low Power
Low power is the focus of this issue of Synopsys Journal. It is one of the biggest challenges that our customers face today. Its impact on the design flow is ubiquitous – from system specification through to process technology. Where will the next 100x power savings come from? Mike Muller, CTO, ARM Ltd., reviews low power market trends and concludes that however much the industry reduces power, it will never be enough. Dr. Antun Domic, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Synopsys Implementation Group, considers the business and technology issues that are driving change – both evolutionary and revolutionary – in low power design. And Michael Keating, Synopsys Fellow, reflects on key issues that affect the future of low power chip design. View full issue >>