In the ever-evolving world of electronic design automation (EDA), JITX is making waves by revolutionizing how printed circuit boards (PCBs) are designed. I had the opportunity to sit down with Duncan Haldane, CEO and co-founder of JITX, at the 61st Design Automation Conference in San Francisco to discuss the innovative approach his company takes to transform traditional PCB design methodologies into a more streamlined and efficient process.
JITX: Bridging the Gap Between Chips and Boards
JITX aims to bring the same level of automation and efficiency to PCB and system design that has long been available for chip design. While chip design moved to code-based methodologies back in the 1980s, boards and packages lagged behind, remaining rooted in graphical approaches. JITX updates this by enabling electronic system design using a programming language, effectively bridging the gap between chips and boards.
“We designed JITX to use code instead of the traditional graphical approach. This allows us to design electronic systems, including boards and packages, using a programming language called Stanza, which looks a lot like Python but offers more powerful semantics,” Haldane explains.
A Unified Language for System Design
JITX’s approach involves using a general-purpose programming language to design not just individual boards but entire systems of boards and packages. This unified language allows designers to treat the system as a single integrated entity, optimizing across traditional boundaries like signal integrity, power integrity, and package design.
“The traditional approach involves using different tools and teams for various aspects of design, leading to numerous meetings and PowerPoint presentations. With JITX, all these elements are brought together into one place, allowing for a more holistic optimization process,” Haldane adds.
