A framework, not a manual

Electronic News, Oct 5, 1992 by Peter Dunn

If you were to make a list of hot topics in the EDA field today, it would likely include frameworks, the growing role of resellers, a trend toward "point solutions" and the nascent war between Unix and Windows NT. One place where these issues converge is the San Jose, Calif., office of EDA CAD T.E.A.M., a Canadian-owned VAR of EDA tools. Even as the CAD Framework Initiative's spec moves toward approval (EN, Sept. 28), EDA CAD T.E.A.M. is unveiling EDA Bridge, a framework based on Microsoft Windows.

"We're a strategic partner, not just a VAR," says Ken Auga, president of the EDA CAD Team. "Our customers are asking us for a solution. They say, 'Gee, if only you had integration to communicate from one tool to another.'"

EDA Bridge leverages Windows' communication capabilities to provide data exchange between programs, a common library of component values, dimensions and other data; and a "Message Bridge" that transmits signals in a standard form from one application to others. Non-Windows applications can use ASCII text files for their intercommunication.

At present, only five software developers (all of whom are represented by EDA CAD T.E.A.M.) are participating, but Mr. Auga hopes customer demand for a simple, PC-based framework will encourage others to add the needed functionality to their tools.

CFI, he notes, has no code, only a thick manual of specifications. EDA Bridge includes Dynamic Link Library (.DLL) files called from within any Windows application, much like a printer driver. Thus, application developers need only add a minimum of their own code, and .DLL files can be upgraded without the need to recompile the application. Applications will be able to use this capability to transmit messages like "open file," "highlight part," "move," "delete" and so forth, which will be acted on by other programs in real time. For example, if a user adds an IC to a board design program, the location, orientation and size of the part could be looked up by EDA Bridge and sent to a mechanical CAD program.

"It's designed especially for printed circuit boards and FPGAs, but it could be used for ASICs," said Mr. Auga. "The companies we're reselling are listening and we want to broaden it. We want to encourage companies that are going to Windows to incorporate some calls--they can please hundreds and hundreds of users." Currently on board are PCB software vendor Pads Software, AutoCAD, analog simulation supplier Dolphin, schematic capture developer ECS and EPS, a producer of multiplatform simulators. Mr. Auga says one customer is committed with "a fairly large purchase order," and that others are "very serious."

Assuming all goes well, Mr. Auga expects to add new capabilites, such as bill of materials generation and automatic calling of distributors to check part pricing and availability, and to port to Windows NT as soon as it is available.

Will it fly? Several questions remain. First off, EDA CAD T.E.A.M. is not yet shipping the entire tool set--the message server has been shipped to manufacturers now incorporating it into their programs, and the $795 Resolve component library manager is on sale, but the Project Manager section that allows easy data management is still in beta test. Customers may balk at buying an upstart framework without the backing of a large software house or standards committee. International Data Corp. program manager Gisela Wilson adds that EDA Bridge may be a hard sell to application developers given the small installed base.

On the plus side, most observers (including Ms. Wilson) feel Windows NT will be a serious force in the EDA market, and EDA Bridge could stake out a position simply by dint of its existence.

The Toronto-based T.E.A.M. Corp., seeking to focus its VAR activities more closely, has reorganized into three companies serving the electronic, mechanical and architectural/engineering/construction (AEC) CAD markets. EDA CAD T.E.A.M., which includes the recently acquired operations of CAD Solutions Inc., will offer electronic tools, while MDA CAD T.E.A.M. will sell mechanical design tools, including AutoCAD and those from Aries Technology. AEC CAD T.E.A.M. will handle the AEC market.