In engineering electronics this is the era of very large-scale integration (VLSI). This is the first authoritative text to trace the important steps in the evolution of IC processes-from the early p-channel MOS technology, through PMOS and NMOS, to the state of the art in CMOS VLSI. Concurrent advances in wafer fabrication are also described. The practical applications-of standard circuits, custom ICs, and high lead count IC packages, for example-are then examined from the standpoint of suppliers and customers. The author also scans the new frontiers: the potential of new digital architectures, silicon circuits, VLSI software and gallium arsenide ICs-An excellent sourcework for those who design, produce, purchase and work with electronic technology.