Simple Solver Logic

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET staff on October 26, 2009

Tutors and students for logic and computer programming will find this application for minimizing, simplifying and reducing Boolean equations and digital logic circuits a handy box of tools for increasing understanding.

Simple Solver launches a rather plain but functional interface. The large, mostly empty window includes a selection of buttons and check boxes accompanying two medium-size panes or sections, depending on the process being performed. The two panes or sections serve as an editor for inputting equations or criteria and for displaying output from the processes performed on the specified equations. The lack of clutter on the interface provides clarity that helps focus the user's attention on the app's operations--flashy colors and intricate designs don't affect the black-and-white facts of mathematics.

This free toolbox performed very well during our tests. It responded quickly to all our clicks and commands. We liked the array of example equations built into Simple Solver, which provide tutors a nice basis for exploring Boolean equations, the permutation function, random numbers, the simulation function, and the synthesis function. Selecting a process to run was a very straightforward matter of choosing a check box: minimize, invert and minimize, truth table, sort names, and show only last for Boolean processes, and similar simple choices for the other processes. We also liked that we could print either the input or output, allowing teachers to build a study guide or test very easily. We wished we could save items in more formats other than just text, but at least text-formatted files can be converted to other formats.

Publisher's Description

From David Baldwin:

Simple Solver is a free Windows application that can simplify computer logic systems, Boolean equations, and truth tables. The application includes six different tools: Logic Design Draw, Logic Simulation, Logic Design Auto, Boolean, Permutation and Random Number. These tools are built on years of engineering design experience and are intended for both educational and industrial usage. The software is available as freeware for download. Logic Design Draw - A hierarchical WYSIWYG tool that enables a user to interactively create a logic schematic diagram and to run circuit simulation. Logic circuits can be very simple, such as and-or logic, or can consist of hundreds of parts. Both basic parts (logic gates, flip-flops) and MSI (Medium Scale Integration) building blocks are provided. Using blocks, large hierarchical designs - such as small computers - can be built. Computer Logic Simulation - Evaluates both logic circuit functionality and timing problems such as flip-flop setup and hold times, race conditions and glitches/spikes. All circuit types and configurations are supported: Combinational, Sequential, Synchronous and Asynchronous. Logic Design Auto - Automatically design small digital logic circuits and state machines from timing diagrams or truth tables. Boolean - Generates minimized Boolean equations from Boolean equation or Truth table inputs. Boolean operator formats are supported for a variety of languages including: ABEL, C, C++, PALASM, VB, Verilog and VHDL. The software uses both Quine-McCluskey and Espresso (UC Berkeley) algorithms to optimize minimization. Permutation - Generates permutations of numbers from a specified base number and a specified number of digits. Can be used for a variety of applications such as generating binary, octal or decimal number tables. Random Number - Generates from 1-99,999 random numbers in a specified range between -99,999 to 99,999.

What's new in this version: Version 5.0 adds an example of an 8-bit programmable computer to demonstrate how a hierarchy of macro blocks can easily manage large designs.