( SNUG 99 Item 43 ) ----------------------------------------------- [3/31/99]

 The 1999 Synopsys Report Card
 -----------------------------

 So, from a customer's viewpoint, Synopsys appears to only be messing up on
 mostly small potatoes.  VERA needs more user exposure.  VSS, FPGA Express,
 (and apparently Formality) are in a ugly fragmented markets.  Behavioral
 Compiler didn't conquer the world as it was supposed to.  ECO Compiler
 needs 911.  Protocol Compiler and HDL Advisor are playing "Where's Waldo?".
 The Synopsys upper management decided to blow-off hobnobbing with the lowly
 end users at SNUG this year.  And we all grumble about Tcl.

 On the upside, Synopsys seems to be doing very well with the big ticket
 issues.  Design Compiler is wildly popular and DC'99 is better than ever.
 PrimeTime and Test Compiler dominate their markets.  Module Compiler
 groupies are ecstatic.  VCS is bitch'n hot with 3X speed-up Radiant and
 going to Linux.  Power tools are undergoing a surge with customers.  There
 appears to be far more EPIC users than any of us ever expected.  Eaglei
 seems to be matching it's biggest rival, Seamless.  The DW Foundation
 library is growing.  They just announced some new IP delivery tools.  The
 techno-nitpickers (Synopsys CAE's, R&D, tech support) were seen everywhere
 at SNUG.  And we have three serious customer benchmarks confirming that
 'physical synthesis' is something *real* with the new Chip Architect tool.

 Overall, Synopsys seems to be doing very well technologically this year.

 I wish to publically thank Renae Cunningham of Synopsys (who did all the
 behind the scenes organizing within Synopsys, Inc. to make SNUG'99 happen)
 and the SNUG'99 Chair, Don Mills of L3 (who made sure everything in SNUG'99
 was user-driven instead of Synopsys-Marketing-driven!)  These two did an
 awful lot to make SNUG successful this year.  Great job!


 And I'm now stuck brainstorming a new Design Contest for next year... :(

                                          - John Cooley
                                            the ESNUG guy


 P.S.  If you agree/disagree/have-violent-reactions with anything in this
 trip report, please feel free to send me a reply!  I love reader feedback!