( ESNUG 509 Item 2 ) -------------------------------------------- [09/13/12]
Subject: But the backend USERS are evenly split on Synopsys-SpringSoft
AART'S PATENT LAWYERS (part II): The backend users have a very different
take on the Synopsys-SpringSoft merger. Roughly half (44%) are "for" it
because of the possiblity of a viable alternative to the Cadence Virtuoso
monopoly in full custom layout (SNPS "Customer Designer" is a joke in the
analog world with no real users) vs. the other half (41%) are "against"
Synopsys-SpringSoft because it now takes away *both* Laker and Magma as
cheaper Tier 2 custom layout tool alternatives -- hurting those who can't
afford those higher SNPS/CDNS prices.
For the 39 backend users:
"This SpringSoft-Synopsys merger is (choose one) GOOD news,
BAD news, NEUTRAL news for my company because (say why):"
GOOD: ########################################### 44%
BAD: ######################################### 41%
NEUTRAL: ############## 14%
Details on the backend users who gave comments:
GOOD. Finally someone might take on Cadence Virtuoso!
: ####################################### 39%
GOOD. It might help SNPS Custom Designer get better
: ######### 9%
BAD. Reduces competition, increases Synopsys EDA monopoly
: #################################### 38%
BAD. Pricing on full custom layout tools will go up.
: ############# 13%
BAD. SNPS ignores us because we're not a big $$$ customer
: ########### 11%
BAD. Hurts/kills the whole OA and iPDK initiatives
: ## 2%
NEUTRAL. I'm not sure what to make of Synopsys-SpringSoft
: ############## 14%
And, just like the frontend users, a couple of backend users also fear Aart
getting SpringSoft's 34 patents because of Aart's ugly habit of bullying
small EDA start-ups with patent claims.
BAD. We're concerned about Aart getting SpringSoft's 34 patents
: ###### 6%
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Bad. SNPS with Magma/SpringSoft/Ciranova means a new round of
patent lawsuits coming. Less competition. Duopoly pricing next.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Bad. The idea of Aart getting more EDA patents troubles me.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD for companies that try to go lowest-possible-cost on EDA tools.
Laker and Magma tools were the backbone for those companies, and
now they are likely going to be squeezed.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
I believe that the acquisition of Springsoft by Synopsys is BAD news
because:
1) Synopsys will likely choose to go forward with either Laker
or their own Custom Designer tool, either way removing the
path forward for users of the tool they don't choose.
2) Springsoft tools are vendor-neutral. Will that continue when
managed by Synopsys?
3) Synopsys is turning into (or is it already) a bureaucratic
morass. It's much easier dealing with smaller vendors who
can exercise more flexibility.
Also I'm sure that Synopsys didn't buy Springsoft to sell their tools
at cheaper prices. Less competition removes an opportunity for the
EDA user to work a better deal with a hungrier vendor.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD.
SNPS has taken out another competitor (Laker) for OA layout tools
to increase its monopoly.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD news, we are a Taiwan IC design house. Both Synopsys and
Springsoft take a big marketshare in our company. No competition
now. Just one supplier for all our EDA.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD news because overlapped custom layout area / less competition.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
GOOD news, it puts Laker in a good position to challenge Virtuoso.
Very difficult for SpringSoft to do this on it's own. Laker has
good user functions that Cadence will have a hard time to catch up.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
GOOD NEWS. Cadence has gotten complacent. This acquisition will
jolt them significantly... and that's a good thing. Don't get me
wrong, I love Virtuoso and it definitely works the best.
But with Synopsys behind them, Laker and Helix/PyCells will succeed,
where before they just didn't have the clout. That has got to scare
the powers that be in Virtuoso Land. All Synopsys has to do is fund
convertion of all the SKILL code at a potential customer. Well
maybe not all of it, but certainly anything to do with layout.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
GOOD news -
Now there is a serious contender to Virtuoso. These purchases cover
some weak spots that Synopsys had to handle their design flow needs.
Also a big team of former Cadence people was in SpringSoft so they
know how Cadence operates!
Looking forward to new technologies coming out of this "merge"...
Careful with the "redundant" people and software, not to kill the
wrong product due to politics...
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
GOOD news. If all the goodies of SpringSoft Laker are encapsulated
in Custom Designer and we will have a better analog environment it
is good news.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
GOOD. Consolidation on a tool challenging Virtuoso.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Neutral. Is Synopsys planning to replace Laker R&D with their own
SNPS R&D team (which will absolutely not work well!)? The Laker AEs
know their tool well and have provided excellent support to their
customers. Historically these AEs are let go and replaced them with
SNPS's own AE team. The customers suffer for a given time while the
new AEs try to impress upon them that they know the tool well. In
the end, resolving issues take much longer and customers are the ones
who pay the penalty.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
This not so good news for the industry, especially for Laker users as
it's likely to get eventually merged into the Synopsys/Magma offerings.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD.
Synopsys is by far the worst of the EDA vendors to work with, as a
customer. Good news for Synopsys since they couldn't compete against
Laker or Virtuoso.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD news
Reduces competition; reduces drive for "Open" and "Interoperable"
elements for PDKs.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD news. The more layout competitors, the better the market. Less
competitors, the higher the prices.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
BAD for users (and innovation) if Laker is gone. We don't use it
but like the option for it.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Related articles:
78 percent of frontend USERS see Synopsys-SpringSoft as BAD
And 86 percent USERS overal are NEUTRAL on Synopsys-Ciranova
While 52 percent EDA RIVALS see Synopsys-SpringSoft as GOOD
And 46 percent of EDA RIVALS see Synopsys-Ciranova as BAD
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