SiliWiz, Short Posts, and Discount Plans
A browser-based layout visualization tool, a new weekly column, and lower priced subscription plans.
Hey it’s Vikram! 👋
I usually post on Sundays, but I’ve been toying with some plans for this Substack and decided to post an update mid-week to let you know what’s cooking!
SiliWiz
In my last post, I discussed all the ways to learn chip design using open source tools. One fantastic option to actually manufacture chip hardware is TinyTapeout, which is the brainchild of Matt Venn. One particular detail that Matt pointed out is the export control/chip loan aspect of the TinyTapeout shuttle runs at IHP Microelectronics, which states that the chip is on loan and you may be asked to return it within a two-year period. This restriction is only for the next couple of shuttle runs and not forever. I think this is important to clarify and I have updated the original post below with the correct information.
I also had the opportunity to talk to Matt over a short call in the midst of the Great Spain/Portugal Power Outage. Apart from a few dropped packets, our chat went surprisingly well.
One really cool tool Matt showed me was SiliWiz. It is a layout tool that runs entirely in your web browser and can even run some basic simulations of circuits. This is a really neat way to visualize a few basic integrated circuits without installing anything. This tool is also entirely open source, so you can look at how the underlying code works. It is very satisfying to play around with. Give it a shot!
Mid-Week Short Posts
I’ve been told that my weekly deep-dive posts on Sundays can be quite intense to read. A bunch of motivated readers have been using ChatGPT to fill in gaps in their understanding especially if they don’t have a background in what the article is about. This is clever, and I applaud their dedication.
This tells me I can do better. I’d like to fill in those gaps myself with short posts about basic concepts that take 5 minutes or less to read (just like this post). They could also be other topics that are career focused, just opinion pieces, or a short take on industry trends. This newsletter could use some varied content.
I will post these on most Wednesdays starting in May. The long-form posts take a lot of time, so I’ll do my best to keep on schedule. I intended to keep these ~750 word posts entirely free, while the Sunday deep-dives will have more in-depth content for paid subscribers. This column is entirely optional, and you will have the choice to opt out of it in lieu of long-form content.
Love it? Hate it? Reply to this email and let me know.
Discount Pricing Options
This newsletter now has lower priced options for students and readers from countries with lower purchasing power.
If you have a .edu account, you can get 50% off monthly and annual subscriptions. Some readers may not have one, but can still get the same discounted pricing by emailing me at subscriptions@vsekar.com. I will send you a discount link.
To establish purchasing power parity, the newsletter now has adjusted pricing based on your country of residence. For example, readers from India get 70% discounts on monthly and annual subscriptions. Email me at subscriptions@vsekar.com to get your discount code.
Due to your support for this publication, this Substack hit #6 in the “Rising in Education” category, however briefly. You are awesome and thanks for your readership and support!
That’s it for this quick mid-week update! See you again soon.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this newsletter are solely mine; they do not reflect the views or positions of my past, present or previous employers, or any entities I am affiliated with. The content provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional or investment advice.
Fantastic news Vikram. Really looking forward to the short posts.