( ESNUG 502 Item 4 ) -------------------------------------------- [04/19/12]
Subject: Cliff speaks for System Verilog; Shalom and others for Specman "e"
> From their actions and inactions, it's obvious Cadence Marketing decided
> some time ago that they see Specman "e" as a dying product to be milked
> for as much $$$ for as long as possible while they focus their energy
> on the fight with Synopsys and Mentor over System Verilog market share.
>
> - from http://www.deepchip.com/items/0501-02.html
From: Cliff Cummings <cliffc=user domain=sunburst-design not calm>
Hi, John,
I get a lot of Specman "e" users that come through my System Verilog and
OVM/UVM classes. Many of them are very happy pecman "e" users and rather
discouraged to be moving to System Verilog and OVM/UVM.
Based on my experience, there seems to be two primary factors that moves
a company from Specman "e" to System Verilog:
(1) If the company needs more verification licenses. Users tell
me that Cadence Specman "e" licenses are very expensive and
that they can buy a full System Verilog simulation license
for less plus get OVM/UVM verification for free.
(2) If the company has new college grads or they hire some more
verification engineers, these companies see the writing on the
wall and figure it is better to train the new hires, and
existing teams, in a System Verilog that will be in their
future -- as opposed to training the new hires in the use of
Specman "e" -- knowing that they will have to be re-trained
into System Verilog and OVM/UVM in the near future.
Companies that have adequate Specman "e" licenses and do not need to train
up new hires, tend to stay with "e" for the time being -- and they like it!
If you look at the 2010 Wilson Research Group studies commissioned by Harry
Foster of Mentor Graphics, you will see that as of 2010, 60% of respondents
were already using System Verilog verification -- with that number going to
75% over the next 12 months. Specman "e" users were at 15% and projected
to decline to 11% over the next 12 months. It also projected growth in the
use of OVM/UVM, while eRM was projected to decline.
Based on this, Cadence would be foolish to put much effort into Specman "e"
marketing, sales and support; their competition would eat their lunch.
I understand [ Specmaniac's ] frustration, but now that all three vendors
have settled on UVM for the future of verification, I think it is fair to
say "we have a winner and it's System Verilog!"
- Cliff Cummings
Sunburst Design, Inc. Provo, UT
Editor's Note: For full disclosure, Cliff is a long standing early
member of a number of System Verilog standards committees. - John
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
From: Shalom Bresticker <shalom.bresticker=user domain=intel got calm>
Hi, John.
The claim that Cadence is not pushing Specman "e" is ridiculous. Here are
some points:
- I just got an update that the Specman/VCS interface will support
VCS 2011.12 in the next Specman release.
- There is a big Specman R&D group here in Israel.
- Last Monday, there was a Club T conference (i.e. Specman Users Group)
here in Israel. A lot of new technologies and roadmaps were presented.
I'm not at liberty to speak of them, due to confidentiality agreements.
- You won't find "e" mentioned much in Synopsys and Mentor forums probably
because those companies are not interested in promoting it.
- Many industry conferences discourage papers/presentations on Specman "e"
because it is seen as vendor-specific.
- We get very good Specman support.
I can also add that some of Cadence's new technologies are piloted first on
Specman "e" and only after that they are planned for extension to System
Verilog et al.
I believe that CDNS is not interested in promoting non-CDNS "e", though.
- Shalom Bresticker
Intel Jerusalem, Israel
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
From: [ Papa Smurf ]
Hi, John,
Keep me anon please.
I was running a sim with one of our legacy Specman environments last week.
Ran into a problem. Got a patch from Cadence within a few hours.
CDNS may not be promoting Specman but AFAIK it's is still fully supported.
- [ Papa Smurf ]
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