CynApps Strengthens C++ Design Support; User Demand for Professional Support Grows With Popularity of Free Cynlib Class Library.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 27, 2000

CynApps unveiled a new support model for users of the open-source Cynlib class library at the DATE trade show here today in response to worldwide customer demand for professional C++ design support.

According to CynApps president Dr. John Sanguinetti, more than 1,000 users have downloaded Cynlib, a class library and simulator that enables hardware modeling in C++, since it was first posted on the company's website last year.

"The result has been an explosion in C++ hardware design activity," Dr. Sanguinetti said. "To this point we haven't offered more than ad hoc support, but as these designs become more ambitious and complex there is clearly a need for a new level of service."

Dr. Sanguinetti noted that Cynlib is the only open-source class library complemented by professional support. "Users will appreciate the difference. To date, no one has offered to support designers who want to use a C++ class library for real work. We think this is an important step in the maturation of open-source hardware design tools. If you are going to bet your company or your career on a new design methodology, it is important to have someone there to back you up. That is the appeal of offering support services for free software."

"We have been an early user of Cynlib from CynApps and think they are on the right track offering support for the open-source Cynlib class library," Dr. Sharad Mehrotra, founder and CEO of Procket Networks, said. "We have gotten great service from CynApps, and believe that other customers will find this service invaluable."

Details of Support Package

CynApps is pricing its support package at $25,000 U.S. on a per-project basis. Included in the price are:

    --  Ongoing online and telephone support

    --  Onsite training at customer location

    --  Early access to special-purpose hardware design classes

    --  Cyn++: HDL-like macro language, implemented by a pre-processor
        that provides a convenient bridge between C and Verilog/VHDL

    --  Cyntax: Static lint program that recognizes common errors in
        hardware described in C++

About CynApps

CynApps was started in 1998 by Dr. John Sanguinetti, the founder of Chronologic Simulation (now part of Synopsys); Dr. J. Randy Allen, noted compiler expert and former vice-president of engineering at Chronologic Simulation; and Andy Goodrich, graphics expert and former chief technology officer at IXmicro. CynApps is located in Santa Clara, Calif. and can be reached at 408/588-4000, or on the web at www.cynapps.com.