( SNUG 05 Item 6 ) ----------------------------------------------- [12/20/05]
Subject: Synopsys Users Group (SNUG)
A CULTURAL ADVANTAGE -- Blah, blah, blah, last year I did this survey with
almost the exact same questions for Cadence in 2004:
"How does the Cadence Users Group rank vs. the Magma/Synopsys/Mentor
users groups (Better, Equal, or Worst)?"
Better: #### 9%
Equal: ################### 37%
Worst: ########################### 53%
- from http://www.deepchip.com/items/icu04-09.html
And now the exact same questions for *Synopsys* in 2005:
"How do you rate the Synopsys Users Group which meets every year
in San Jose, CA versus its equivalent Magma/Cadence/Mentor users
groups (choose one) -- better, equal, or worst?
Better: ################################## 69%
Equal: ############## 27%
Worst: ## 4%
Mind you, this is a comparision of the olde Cadence ICU vs SNUG; it's NOT a
comparision of the new "CDN Live" vs SNUG. (That data I'll get when I do
my annual Cadence-vs-its-rivals survey.)
Regardless of where the Cadence Users Group stands, since its early days
Synopsys has had the advantage of having a users group with a strong
tradition of being user-driven instead of marketing-driven. And although
this might piss off some individual Synopsys marketing managers trying to
push some tool-du-jour, its been this emphasis on user-driven that's helped
keep Synopsys itself user-driven (and successful) in the long run.
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Have not attended SNUG in over 5 years. I do read some of the SNUG
papers.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
I've never attended, but I've had a number of friends who make SNUG an
annual thing, and get a lot out of it. I always attend the Synopsys
spring seminar to get updates on software. I find it to be useful
(plus it's only 1 day).
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
I can remember only SNUG and MUSIC to some extent. I like the demos of
the tools, the experienced AEs make. But sometimes I feel user papers
are mostly to satisy Synopsy's pestering for publications. This applies
very much to MUSIC, too.
- Jay Pragasam of Open Silicon Inc.
Both Synopsys and Magma groups continue to allow a significant
percentage of weak technical papers. Not sure if this is because of
a limited number of submissions but many are weak none-the-less. If
filler material is required, R&D should step up and fill the space.
In addition, a paper should be disallowed if it promotes some new
whiz-bang approach and the user only discusses results and doesn't
provide source code for how it was generated. This is of limited
benefit to the audience who is giving their time to listen. Full
disclosure should be required.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
My friend went to SNUG and found it really good. Said he learnt a
lot. I have not heard anyone say great things about the Magma one.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
I went to Synopsys user group meeting in Japan this year. I saw more
that 200 attendee. As for Magma MUSIC in Japan, I saw 25 attendee only
in the morning...
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
I've never attended SNUG in person, but I always enjoyed reviewing the
papers. I've attended MUSIC in person now, and was impressed. Perhaps
SNUG is still better, but MUSIC is definitely worthwhile.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Synopsys is worst. I like the Magma user group better because
users are more willing to share information.
- John Schritz of Tektronix
SNUG is much better.
Majority of SNUG presentations/papers is from true users, while
CDN Live and MUSIC are not.
We receive SNUG presentations online one week before the event. Both
CDN and LAVA did not deliver presentations in the event day. CDN is
publicly committed to give user access to presentations by 10/3 (CDN
Live is 9/12). I followed up on 10/4, and was told "available shortly".
As of today 10/5, I have not received notification of availability yet.
MUSIC occurred on 9/15, I have not received notif of availability yet.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
The SNUG is a lot more organized that MUSIC. This is the first year
that I went to MUSIC. One of the presenter is a no-show, and the
technical content is not as good as Synopsys.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
I have only attended Synopsys and Magma user group meetings recently.
Synopsys user group meeting is definitely more well organized and
attended than Magma's.
- Wanhao Li of Zoran
Better, more established user base, presentations more user driven than
MUSIC for example.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Not attended Synopsys Users Group as yet but it must be better than
the one Magma attempts.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
I don't know anyone who goes to the Mentor UG anymore. I used to a
loooong time ago. I know of a few folks who go to SNUG and get a
lot out of it.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Better. Haven't been to Mentor users meeting. The reason is Synopsys
has a larger user community and tool base.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
SNUG is very good. We don't go to Cadence's group, but we should.
Mentor comes out to visit us often enough that we get enough information
without going to their conference. Shame on us.
- Tom Mannos of Sandia National Laboratories
Equal. The quality of the paper/tutorials can vary from sales pitch
to useful. Same as with Mentor/Cadence.
- Brendan Barry of S3 Ltd.
Better than CDN - although I did not see the latest one.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
I attended the Cadence group this year, and thought it was done well.
I missed SNUG this year as we were in the middle of a tapeout.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
I think technically SNUG is far superior to Cadence user group.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
SNUG is the best conference I go to. The Cadence conference has
potential, but it is just starting and has a ways to go.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Better. I believe SNUG is very informative and covers all aspects of the
design flow. I have tried to find some useful sessions in Cadence event
to convince my manager to provide the expenses to attend with no success.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Don't attend Magma/Cadence/Mentor, so can't compare. SNUG is a good venue
for us to compare notes with other Synopsys users.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
For the SNUG organized in Europe it seem better respect to the one of
Cadence. Because I found more useful info.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
I have participated the European SNUG - the (paper) quality is improving.
R&D session has a nice intention, but needs more preparation and
openness of the R&D and the panellists
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
SNUG Europe has been interesting. Good user input.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
I attend SNUG/EAST in Boston, although I may have attended my last one.
Too much sales focus.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
SNUG Boston rocks. It is better than other EDA vendors' events because
it provides a lot of practical educational information. Also, it
literally rocks.
- Jonah Probell, consultant
Better. There are more users who are honest and upfront about their
experience whether positive or negative.
- Sunil Malkani of Broadcom
Better. Highest attendance.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Great and focused but occasionally also spend a lot of time bloviating.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Haven't attended for several years. Seems to get stale after several
visits. Same old topics. Haven't attended the other vendors UGs.
Mostly now, my only vendor visit besides 1/1 in silicon valley for
specific issues is at DAC.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
better
- Benjamin Chen of Socle Tech.
SNUG is always interesting in that it is a good networking opportunity.
Also access to ask questions to some more of the Synopsys staff is
always good. The papers are O.K. quality, with some good, while others
lacking signifcantly. It is good that they are not so academic as some
other conferences but they could raise the bar a bit to get accepted.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
It's a useful conference, although the last couple of years have not been
as useful. Can't compare it to the others.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Equal. Too much market hype, not helpful to resolve issues we have.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Equal. Basically with similar kind of information and orgnization.
- Larry Ping of BroadLogic Network Technologies
Synopsys UG is okay, interesting papers, sometimes a bit too coached
by Synopsys sales/support. Never hear anything from Magma/Cadence/Mentor.
Do they even have UGs?
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Equal - some good things get presented, but a high tax on time.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
About the same
- Dinesh Venkatachalam of Legend Silicon
The articles from all SNUG groups are valuables and I try to read all
interested articles in my working area.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Yeah, right, the company is going to pay for me to go to the Synopsys
Users Group in San Jose....
- David Smith of STmicroelectronics
Never go.
- [ An Anon Engineer ]
Excellent
- David Black, consultant
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