Alternatively, for larger SoC designs, engineering budgets can be shifted from the purchase of a relatively small number of high-cost EDA tool licenses to open source EDA technologies that can be run on massive compute-server farms. Today, a low-cost, high-value-added business model can efficiently serve the market for IC subsystems licensed as intellectual property (silicon IP) in the form of compilable source code. The common theme presented in this article for the driver of technology innovation is the requirement to develop the most advanced microprocessor possible. This article reviews the history of key advances in ICs and EDA tools. Arthur Low, Crack Semiconductor Chelsea, Canada
