Mastering first-time silicon success

Author: Manohar C

The Power of FPGA Prototyping & ASIC Emulation.

Achieving First-Time Silicon Success (FTSS) is the paramount goal in ASIC development, directly impacting market timelines and billions of dollars in R&D investment. This paper establishes that the strategic adoption of ASIC Emulation and FPGA Prototyping, methods that effectively “shift left” the validation process, are not merely optional steps but essential accelerators. By providing unmatched visibility, speed, and real-world execution capabilities well before tape-out, these tools dramatically reduce risk, enable true hardware/software co-design, and ensure a robust, high-quality functional release.