Free VLSI Design Tools

• NanoHub
• IBIBLIO List of tools for Electronic Design
• Stanford University TCAD tools
• Berkeley Spice [ 3f5 | 2G6 ]
• MAGIC Layout Tool
• Ptolemy II (Ptolemy II is a set of Java packages supporting heterogeneous, concurrent modeling and design.)
• GNU Electric
  

Verilog Resources

• Rajesh Bawankule's Verilog and EDA Page
• Project VeriPage (PLI resources)
• Veripool: Public domain verilog resources
• Alternate Verilog FAQ.
• Verilog On-Line Mannual, by Prof. Gerrard Blair
• Verilog Introduction for Digital Design

VHDL Resources

• VASG
• VHDL Tutorial

Books

The Books I have usually referenced

• Verilog HDL (2nd Edition)
  
• The Designer's Guide to VHDL (Systems on Silicon)
  
• Principles of CMOS VLSI Design
  
• CMOS IC Layout : Concepts, Methodologies, and Tools (Newnes)
• Writing Testbenches using SystemVerilog
• A Practical Guide for SystemVerilog Assertions
• Advanced ASIC Chip Synthesis Using Synopsys® Design Compiler® Physical Compiler® and PrimeTime®
• Physical Design Essentials: An ASIC Design Implementation Perspective
• Switching and Finite Automata Theory (McGraw-Hill computer science series)

VLSI Design Companies in India

Pune

• Cirrus Logic
• Marvel Semiconductor
• Wipro

Mumbai

• Silicon Interfaces

Bangalore

• Infineon
• Intel
• AMD
• Nvidia
• Analog Devices
• NXP Semiconductors
• Texas Instruments
• Ikanos
• Marvel Semiconductor

Please comment on new companies..http links to Indian operations appreciated...

Working in Peace

This is really a personal promotion, how many of you IC designers have a really quiet workstation on your desk. You probably got used to the fan noise. You already sit >8 hrs staring at a LCD monitor and have the pressure to tape-out all the time, and many of you would also have Carpel Tunnel Syndrome.

Cant we do anything ? One good move would be at least to use a smaller and a silent desktop, however if you are in a big company, then your company may not be buying "smaller desktops" as they want to buy from brand name vendors, and brand name vendors seem to want to sell only large boxes to our employers, which burn a lot of BTU and buzz with numerous fans.

Here is one Idea I started on the Dell Idea storm, so that they could have smaller lighter RHEL certified desktops, so you can vote for RHEL certification of light weight Dell's.

Unfortunately the better enterprise linux (Ubuntu) is not supporting multi-arch so our CAD Vendors, too cannot support their software on it, so we need this at least until Ubuntu/Debian is supported.

I wish of some one could volunteer with the other major hardware vendors we use, like IBM/Lenovo, Toshiba, etc