The role of VHDL as a description language for off-the shelf integrated circuits
Jim Morris · ACM SIGDA Newsletter · 1988
The US Department of Defense (DoD), through its military departments, procures thousands of electronic systems every year. These electronic systems are comprised of printed circuit boards, which, in turn, are comprised of hundreds of distinct integrated circuits (ICs). Some of these ICs are "custom-made" for each specific electronic system, but many are purchased "off-the-shelf" as individual components.