He first worked on in-house simulation, synthesis, and static timing analysis tools at Nortel Networks in Ottawa, Canada. He was one of the architects of Nortel Networks' design verification process, which resulted in the first-time success of a completely new 10 GB ATM switch. Janick has been a methodology consultant for the past six years and has helped companies improve their verification processes, testbench implementations, and design quality. I wish I could say learning about design verification was a simple process of taking a few basic and advanced classes. The reality is not so simple.
Verification is an art.
Until we can create a repeatable process that will yield high functional coverage, designing a verification environment and deciding which test cases to perform will remain an art form. I gained my own expertise through trial and error and a slow evolution process of my techniques and methodologies, guided and inspired by exchanges from coworkers and other engineers in the industry. I am never satisfied with locally optimal solutions, repetitive motions, or inefficiencies. I try to avoid falling so deeply in love with my own choices that I can't abandon them quickly in favor of a better alternative solution, even if proposed or created by someone else. The whole purpose of this book is to try to frame and shape the rapid evolution of functional verification.