In case you haven't heard it already: we at @fsi have started packaging software, to make awesome #FLOSS available to you #electronics and #chip #designers
Highlight so far include klayout and magic, which are now easily available to you #Guix users through simple invokations, like:

guix shell klayout -- klayout

or

guix shell magic -- magic

#GNU Guix not only allows for most up-to-date packages, #reproducible development and build environments and an absolute dedication to #freesoftware, it also eases contribution, extension and enhancement of already available solutions.

Check it out! Don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions!

https://f-si.org
https://guix.gnu.org

#silicon #freesilicon #FOSS #chipdesign #EDA #electronicdesignautomation

Chip Packaging Trumps EDA: Why Synopsys Is Paying $35 Billion For Ansys

https://www.nextplatform.com/2024/01/16/chip-packaging-trumps-eda-why-synopsys-is-paying-35-billion-for-ansys/

#news #electronicDesignAutomation #Semiconductors #chips

I recently got email from an account manager (what us simpletons call a "salesperson") with #Altium , an #ElectronicDesignAutomation ( #EDA ) software company that I bought a rather expensive mid-range product from about 10 years ago.

I've never been able to use #AltiumDesigner without it crashing.

(I believe the root of problem is that the product is built upon the Delphi language and run-time executable, which appears to be an unsupported zombie product of the late compiler maker #Borland .)

The person suggested that I buy a software maintenance subscription (in addition to what I've already spent on a perpetual license) so that I may upgrade to the latest version. Based on my past experience with Altium, I'm not confident that this will fix my problem, or be more productive than literally flushing hundred-dollar bills down the toilet.

Lately I've been warming up to #KiCAD and I expect to make my next #PrintedCircuitBoards with it. It's a pretty intuitive tool (with a few quirks so far, all tolerable).