Novas Enhances Debug Technology Platform
Debug Leader Boosts User Productivity and Tool
Performance, New Releases of Debussy and Verdi Offer
Assertion-Driven Debug Capabilities
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 2003--
Novas Software, Inc., the leader in debug systems for complex chip
designs, today announced technology enhancements to the core debug
platform for Novas' market-leading Debussy(R) Debug System and
Verdi(TM) Behavior-Based Debug System. These include database upgrades
that use less memory and double the performance of many debug
operations. The enhanced infrastructure also integrates new clock tree
and timing debug features, and supports the production release of
Novas' assertion-driven debug capabilities.
Already in use by several key semiconductor companies, these
latest advances improve designer productivity and promote adoption of
advanced verification methodologies to accelerate debug and
understanding of complex integrated circuit (ICs) and system-on-chip
(SoC) designs. Novas customers can obtain complete details on all
product enhancements at http://www.novas.com, and download new
software at their convenience with current maintenance contracts.
Performance Upgrades, New Debug Functionality
"The increasing complexity of SoC design creates the need for more
new formats, standards, techniques and languages than ever before. As
a result, engineering teams must make many more decisions about the
verification strategy and tools needed to support their
next-generation designs," said George Bakewell, director of technical
marketing for Novas.
Novas has enhanced the core performance of its debug platform
through a variety of database and library optimization techniques. An
optimized format developed for Novas' proprietary fast signal database
(FSDB) stores results from verification tools in files that are up to
50 percent smaller and faster for data extraction, reload and
annotation tasks.
Novas' new clock tree debug and analysis allows engineers to
easily find clock sources, extract and highlight clock domains, and
detect and check clock domain crossings. They can also import Synopsys
PrimeTime(R) timing analysis reports into Debussy and Verdi. Novas'
systems automatically generate a list of the critical paths identified
by PrimeTime, from which engineers can select and display paths in
either file or schematic view during debug. These capabilities
specifically target the complex timing strategies of today's large,
multi-million gate designs.
Novas' Bakewell added, "Our customers expect us to deliver debug
solutions that maximize their productivity, and we continue to
optimize the performance benefits and scalability of our debug
platform. Today though, keeping pace with the evolution of standards
and new verification methodologies is also a critical aspect of R&D.
This has been a major area of focus over the last year for our Debussy
and Verdi product teams."
In addition, Novas' assertion-driven debug capabilities first
introduced with a beta release in March 2003 have been fully
integrated for production use. Verdi and Debussy users can browse and
trace OpenVera Assertions (OVA) source code along with HDL source, and
display the results of assertion-based verification tools in both
source and waveform views. Verdi also features advanced behavior query
and tracing tools and post-simulation assertion checking to help
engineers more thoroughly understand cause-and-effect relationships.
About Novas
Novas is the pioneer of debug systems that reduce the functional
verification costs for complex IC designs. Building upon the strength
of its market-leading Debussy(R) Debug System, Novas' Verdi(TM)
Behavior-Based Debug System further improves the efficiency of
designers in the system-on-chip era with advanced design exploration
and debug capabilities. These allow design teams to better understand
and analyze complex or unfamiliar design behavior, and cut by half or
more the time it takes to locate, isolate and understand the root
causes of design problems. Highlighted as one of the "Top 100
Products" for 2002 by EDN Magazine, Verdi also holds the honor as
finalist for the EDN 2002 Innovation Award. There are more than 10,000
Novas systems in use today at customer sites worldwide. Novas is
headquartered in San Jose, Calif. with offices in Europe, Japan and
Asia-Pacific. For more information visit http://www.novas.com or send
email to info@novas.com
Debussy is a registered trademark and Verdi is a trademark of
Novas Software, Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are
the property of their respective owners.
CONTACT: Public Relations for Novas
Wired Island, Ltd.
Laurie Stanley, 510/656-0999
laurie@wiredislandpr.com
or
Novas Software, Inc., San Jose
Lorie Bowlby, 408/467-7871
lorie@novas.com
