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The tools for EEs are old, creaky, text-based stuff from the DOS days. Time to finally turn EE into a software discipline. Then some decent tools will be devel

The tools for EEs are old, creaky, text-based stuff from the DOS days. Time to finally turn EE into a software discipline. Then some decent tools will be developed and normal folk will be willing to design stuff.

schlauerfox 4y ago
A poor workman blames his tools.
- JoeAltmaier 4y ago
  So you'll sign up to use crappy tools to design hardware with millions of elements? This isn't about chest-beating. Its about attracting people to a discipline which is currently arcane because of obtuse tools.
- antod 4y ago
  It wasn't until a few years ago that I properly understood that somewhat trite line. It isn't implying that a good workman has the skills to work wonders with bad tools, it's that a good workman will make damn sure they won't have bad tools to begin with.
spfzero 4y ago
The tools EEs used even IN the DOS days were already graphical. Tablets were used for input, pre-mouse. Workstations were expensive, because they were graphics workstations, not text terminals. The chips DOS ran on were designed on graphical layout systems.
- dboreham 4y ago
  I was going to say the same thing. As an EE in the late 80s I got to use some kick-ass workstations and leading edge GUI frameworks (e.g. MentorGraphics). The company I worked for also wrote their own CAD system for VLSI design. I never touched DOS.
PragmaticPulp 4y ago
> The tools for EEs are old, creaky, text-based stuff from the DOS days. EE here. That's not really true. Some of the proprietary vendor tools feel dated, but dropping into Altium to design a PCB definitely feels like a modern tool set.
bogantech 4y ago
> The tools for EEs are old, creaky, text-based stuff from the DOS days. Care to name a couple? Because that doesn't sound right at all.
- nsteel 4y ago
  The GUIs I have the misfortune of using on a regular basis are VCS and Design Compiler. They are laggy and stuffed full of weird bugs. However, 99% of the time I'm using the text interface instead since I can type faster/easier than I can move a mouse accurately around, and I'm mostly running scripts anyway. The tools mostly produce textual output so it seems natural to give them textual input. So while they do suck, it's because they are not seen as worth investing in, and the vendors are probably right about that. Some new hires do miss the shiny interface at first but then they go on to get stuff done. Plenty wrong with EE tooling but text-based isn't one of them.

schlauerfox 4y ago

A poor workman blames his tools.

JoeAltmaier 4y ago
So you'll sign up to use crappy tools to design hardware with millions of elements? This isn't about chest-beating. Its about attracting people to a discipline which is currently arcane because of obtuse tools.
antod 4y ago
It wasn't until a few years ago that I properly understood that somewhat trite line. It isn't implying that a good workman has the skills to work wonders with bad tools, it's that a good workman will make damn sure they won't have bad tools to begin with.

spfzero 4y ago

The tools EEs used even IN the DOS days were already graphical. Tablets were used for input, pre-mouse. Workstations were expensive, because they were graphics workstations, not text terminals. The chips DOS ran on were designed on graphical layout systems.

dboreham 4y ago
I was going to say the same thing. As an EE in the late 80s I got to use some kick-ass workstations and leading edge GUI frameworks (e.g. MentorGraphics). The company I worked for also wrote their own CAD system for VLSI design. I never touched DOS.

PragmaticPulp 4y ago

> The tools for EEs are old, creaky, text-based stuff from the DOS days. EE here. That's not really true. Some of the proprietary vendor tools feel dated, but dropping into Altium to design a PCB definitely feels like a modern tool set.

bogantech 4y ago

> The tools for EEs are old, creaky, text-based stuff from the DOS days. Care to name a couple? Because that doesn't sound right at all.

nsteel 4y ago
The GUIs I have the misfortune of using on a regular basis are VCS and Design Compiler. They are laggy and stuffed full of weird bugs. However, 99% of the time I'm using the text interface instead since I can type faster/easier than I can move a mouse accurately around, and I'm mostly running scripts anyway. The tools mostly produce textual output so it seems natural to give them textual input. So while they do suck, it's because they are not seen as worth investing in, and the vendors are probably right about that. Some new hires do miss the shiny interface at first but then they go on to get stuff done. Plenty wrong with EE tooling but text-based isn't one of them.