EDA

The problem is that it's difficult to see the "big picture" when all of its constituent parts are unfamiliar. Thus, EDA: Where Electronics Begins uses the analogy of designing a city to provide a conceptual framework for the reader. For example, our city (electronic system) is formed from a number of islands (circuit boards), which are linked to each other and to the mainland (outside world) by means of bridges (connectors and cables). Each island contains a number of buildings (integrated circuits), each of which has a number of entrances and exits (pins). People (bits of data) move between buildings on moving walkways (copper tracks), … and so on.

Although this analogy may seem simple, it forms a capriciously cunning framework that is used to describe a wide range of tools (synthesis, simulation, layout, etc.) and tricky concepts like clock design, analog and digital circuits, and … the list goes on.