> Any endorsement of Infineon-developed tools by Infineon engineers isn't
> kosher in my book.  It's too much like Bill Gates saying Windows is the
> world's best OS.  Gates could be right, or he could be wrong, but either
> way he's simply not an objective bystander in such a discussion.  :)
>
>     - from http://www.deepchip.com/wiretap/060601.html


From: John Willis <jwillis=user domain=ftlsystems spot gone>

Hi, John,

In my opinion, OneSpin represents some of the top talent in the formal
methods field.  From their Siemens and Infineon experiences, they have what
is practically the most intensive industrial experience.  Siemens and
Infineon have design teams that are committed to formal methods as *THE*
primary technique for design verification.  Thus their reading on the
OneSpin tool seems entirely appropriate and a valuable reference.

On a personal note, I believe the team at OneSpin is not only highly
competent but a very professional and straight forward group to work with.
It is unusual that long term employees of a Germany company would take the
risk to spin out from comparatively secure employment.  This is an added
statement that the OneSpin team believes in what they are doing, as I do.

We've been working with the OneSpin team for most of the last decade (when
their tool was sold by Siemens and then by Infineon.)  This was on a project
with Thales and ITE to allow designers distributed over multiple sites
(Paris, Southampton, Munich, Warsaw...) to share a common design database
and electronic toolset such as what is now the OneSpin formal verification
tool and our own FTL Auriga simulator.

For context, we make processors for large and coherent shared memory systems
and other designs.  Some of our systems run in excess of 5 Ghz using
asynchronous and optical technologies.  And for full disclosure, FTL also
selectively resells high-end EDA tools to non-competing, high-end users
(not a financially key part of our business).  And yes we make a minuscule
amount of money from OneSpin OEMing our Tauri VHDL fontend.

This is to say we are both very demanding user and a selective tool vendor.
We are not owned in any way by Infineon or Siemens.

Simulators are good, but can only verify that a designer's intent was
conveyed for a bounded set of data input sequences.  OneSpin's formal tool
confirms that a design produces the intended output for *ANY* input that
matches specific inputs -- something simulation can't do.

Respectfully, I hope you will consider this part of an informed counterpoint
to your Wiretap 060508.

    - John Willis, CEO
      FTL Systems UK, Ltd.                       Chilworth, Hampshire, UK