My Dad used to do and teach VLSI design from the 1970s on. Later in his life he designed environmental microphones and recording systems using Excel and assembl

My Dad used to do and teach VLSI design from the 1970s on. Later in his life he designed environmental microphones and recording systems using Excel and assembly respectively because, "I don't need software tools because I know the equations" and "I don't need compiled languages because I know where the bits need to go." Sorry for the thread-jack. Three years on since the passing of a true polymath.