Pumpkin QSPICE — A Fall Classic for Circuit Designers

Every October, pumpkin spice takes over the world. You can’t swing a probe lead without hitting a pumpkin-spiced latte, candle or (heaven help us) potato chip. But while everyone else is busy flavoring coffee, we’ve been working on adding a little spice of our own to the popular circuit simulation tool, QSPICE.

Instead of nutmeg and cinnamon, our recipe calls for faster performance, streamlined usability and fresh features — think of it as Pumpkin QSPICE, our seasonal twist on simulation.

No, it doesn’t come in a latte cup, but it does come loaded with some new ingredients that’ll make your simulations smoother, richer and a lot more satisying:

• Datasheet-to-Model Magic: With just a few key specs from a datasheet, you can now quickly create models for discrete JFETs, MOSFETs and diodes. It’s like a pumpkin-carving shortcut — instead of hacking through equations, you scrape, click and go.
• Squeezing More Capabilities: QSPICE’s new Python API eliminates the need for C++ DLLs, making it faster and easier to prototype and customize device behavior.
• Faster Convergence: Think of it as the circuit-simulation equivalent of a convection oven. Your results arrive quicker, and with fewer burnt runs.
• Expanded Device Libraries: More models at your fingertips means more ways to spice up your designs without starting from scratch.
• UI Polish: Waveform plots so smooth, they look like they were topped with whipped cream – plus they actually scale the way you want.

If you’re new to QSPICE, here’s the quick rundown: it’s a modern, high-performance circuit simulation tool that helps engineers design, validate and optimize power and analog circuits with greater accuracy and speed. With support for advanced device modeling, mixed-signal simulation and an intuitive interface, QSPICE is built to handle everything from buck converters to brushless DC (BLDC) motors. You can learn more and download it here: QSPICE on qorvo.com.

Of course, nothing says “engineer’s fall tradition” like tinkering with SPICE late into the night. But now you can spend less time wrestling with convergence errors and more time actually analyzing circuits. Pumpkin QSPICE doesn’t just simulate — it simulates with seasonal efficiency.

So while the rest of the world debates whether pumpkin spice has gone too far, we say, “Not far enough.” Bring it into the lab, sprinkle it on your schematics and enjoy a QSPICE that’s as comforting as your favorite fall indulgence — but with a whole lot more engineering rigor. 

Happy simulating … and pass the pie.

This article first appeared in Brent's Musings in Microwave Journal