On: Examining the silicon dies of the Intel 386 proces...

[bradfitz]

My dad worked on that processor, among others. I see his KF initials in that die photo! :)

[EMIRELADERO → bradfitz]

How were those processors made in a day-to-day basis? What did a typical Intel workspace look like back in the day?

[bradfitz → EMIRELADERO]

I remember they had cubicles. Relatively glamorous compared to entirely open and echoey offices.

[sacnoradhq → bradfitz]

Ah, the days of cubicles. Trimble Nav in Sunnyvale had medium-height, solid fabric-backed 6x8' and 8x8' cubicles in 2000. And it was nice to be tucked in a quiet corner of the building by the foosball table room before there was such thing as startup culture. Was almost detained by SGI security by Shoreline Amphitheater (near the 'plex now) doing field radio testing off a coworker's truck that looked like Van Eck phreaking equipment. I should've worn a hi-vis vest. ;D

PS: Raise a paw if you remember the rainbow Apple logo on the triangle building along 280.

[EMIRELADERO → bradfitz]

What did the design process actually look like? Did they design at the gate level? Drawing manually or via software?

[pests → EMIRELADERO]

This is partially answered in the artice when the author discusses the creation of the 386. Specifically, footnote #23 calls out his sources.

[boulos → bradfitz]

The author even mentioned him in the notes. Do you know any of the other designers names?

[kens → boulos]

I updated the article with Brad's info :)

[bradfitz → boulos]

My dad says he does. I've connected him with Ken.