But it is also becoming clearer that programmable firms will depend on the top-down design platforms supplied by EDA vendors. These will provide the vital front-end functions such as design entry, simulation, and synthesis. Examples abound of solid relationships between EDA houses and silicon suppliers as this trend picks up momentum, Eichenlaub notes. All in all, some see the perception of a software wall as a healthy competitive development. For one thing, it evidently has somewhat slowed established programmable firms from claiming the higher-density business as a simple extension of their turf.
Some industry analysts go even further, predicting a pickup in new entries once again.
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