[jdc]

> EDA tools are expensive, yes. But you are not just paying for the tools, you are paying for all the engineering support being those tools.

So I can buy the tool without the support contract?

> Bugs and problems happen in any development tool [...]

So it's automatically a wash? Why bother trying to improve things if there will always be bugs, right?

> [...] whether it is a problem with their tool or a problem with their setup, to the point that they can deploy a new version of their software on the spot just for you.

I'm not impressed. This is a kludge.

> And they have actual engineers on the other end of the line who know the product like the palm of their hand.

Okay, that actually sounds pretty nice.

[sweden]

> So I can buy the tool without the support contract?

Probably not but it's not something you would like to. Cutting corners is a really bad idea when it comes to hardware development because once it is out there, there is not going back.

Having access to a professional engineering work force that knows how the tool works and know it will ready and interpret the Verilog and process it can make a difference between a 5 minutes delay and 2 week delay in the project.

> So it's automatically a wash? Why bother trying to improve things if there will always be bugs, right?

You are distorting my words. I'm not saying that we should be complacent and just accept incompetence.

[buckminster]

>> [...] whether it is a problem with their tool or a problem with their setup, to the point that they can deploy a new version of their software on the spot just for you.

> I'm not impressed. This is a kludge.

So how would you handle it? Tell the customer you'd love to fix their problem but they have to wait for the next formal release?