EDA (Electronics Design Automation) refers to the computer programs that are used to design all of today's electronic components and products. The problem is that there are more EDA tools than you can throw a stick at, and the myriad ways in which they can be used together will make even the strongest mind boggle.

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.