tempts to fill this gap but unfortunately the authors concentrated mainly on the tools of design more than bit-serial architecture. These tools take the form of a silicon compiler, known as the FIRST compiler (Fast Implementaion of Real-time Signal Transforms) developed in Edinburgh. This term -silicon compiler -can be misleading. It was first coined to describe original work by Johannsen (1978Johannsen ( , 1981)). The purpose of compilers was to avoid tedium and errors consequent on producing long lists of low-level code.
A question is raised to the text as to whether the designer should be system designers rdquiring limited knowledge of the structure of low-level primitives which cannot be answered simply and the text does not give a full answer to this. Structure and methodology is important but this has the damaging effect of producing catalogue designers.
After the first chapter which introduces the reader to Bit-Serial architecture, the majority of the text deals largely with the system description language and primitive library, with a large section on worked examples.
Design for testability has been well considered in a chapter on testing and self-testing and there is much evidence of practical implementation of the case studies. These case studies take up over half the text and consist of a number of different contributions which include prestige names like Carver Mead.
In summary, this text has a lot of merit but I would have doubts as to anyone obtaining its full value without access to the FIRST compiler. It would be advisable reading for a study of design strategy.
The title is a bit misleading; a more accurate title would be "FIRST user guide".