( ESNUG 329 Item 2 ) --------------------------------------------- [9/22/99]
Subject: ( ESNUG 324 #2 ) Eleven Troubles w/ Simplex 'Thunder & Lightning'
> I saw there were couple of references to Simplex's Power analysis tools
> 'Thunder & Lightning' in your DAC'99 Trip Report. I have been working
> with them for around an year now and I couldn't resist from commenting.
>
> * It has too many command/scripts/tools to do the required analysis
> For e.g., If I were to do static IR analysis, I will have to go
> through a run of at least 12 steps (which includes generation/running
> of various scripts and tools)
>
> * It uses many mystical or hard-to-understand the scripts/command files.
> Generally, I just copy the old command file (which has a lot of Pascal
> type statements). I just modify the new GDS design cells and couple of
> file names without really having any understanding of the effect of
> other statement in the command file. (In fact, that's what the Simplex
> staff recommends.)
>
> ...
>
> You will need lot of hand-holding from Simplex's support to work with
> their 'Thunder & Lightning' power tools.
>
> - Anil Kumar
> Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. Camarillo, CA
From: [ Us, Too! ]
John,
I agree with all of Anil's statements, especially concerning the user
interface. I've heard they've improved it recently, but not much. The
core algorithm of Simplex might be swell and dandy, but I'd personally
prefer a slightly less accurate tool that had a friendlier, less *complex*
user interface. There's no reason that the first-time user should be
concerned with implementation details like the number of "stripe" files,
all the various intermediate file formats, or the many command-line options
on their "unsupported" (but very necessary) perl scripts. I had to spend a
considerable amount of time creating my own do-everything script to simply
input GDS and output a parasitic netlist. Another flaw: it doesn't handle
intentional resistor devices very well. I need to jump through hoops to
remove resistors from the layout and LVS netlist, which can lead to missing
capacitances on nodes that only have resistor connections.
The worst part is that Simplex uses our company name in its advertising,
claiming how much we love it. Keep me anonymous please.
- [ Us, Too! ]
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