Texas Instruments and third party developers offer Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) to program all MSP430 devices. Full C-compilers are available. Free, code-limited versions of IAR Embedded Workbench Kickstart and TI Code Composer Studio are available for download.
Code Composer Essentials (CCE) v4 streamlines the design process with an intuitive interface combined with C code density and debugging capabilities. CCStudio v4 combines the advantages of the Eclipse framework with advanced embedded debugging capabilities developed by TI, along with multi-processor debugging and a windowing solution.
Texas Instruments and third party developers offer a number of hardware and software development tools enabling developers to evaluate device performance, complete an entire design project, or set-up a production programming environment. TI offers JTAG based real-time, in-system emulation kits in USB, parallel or USB-stick form factors. Programming, assembler/C-source level debug, single stepping, multiple hardware breakpoints, full-speed operation and peripheral access are all fully supported in-system using JTAG.
Starter Kits: Starter Kits come with everything required to complete an entire project including a socket target board, a Flash Emulations Tool (FET), cables and free code limited CCE and IAR software.
eZ430 Tool: TI's newest development tool includes all the necessary hardware and software in a portable USB stick enclosure. The $20 USD eZ430 tools include a free IDE, providing full emulation with the option of designing a stand-alone system or detaching the removable target board to integrate into an existing design.
eZ430-RF2500 Tool: TI's first wireless microcontroller system development tool, the eZ430-RF2500, includes all the hardware and software required to develop a stand-alone wireless project. The tool, priced at $49 USD, includes a USB-powered emulator to program and debug your application in-system and two 2.4-GHz wireless target boards featuring the highly integrated MSP430F2274 ultra-low-power microcontroller. All the required software is included such as a complete IDE and SimpliciTI, a propriety low-power star network stack, enabling robust wireless networks out of the box.
eZ430-RF2500-SEH Tool: TI's solar energy harvesting kit, the eZ430-Rf2500-SEH is a complete Solar Energy Harvesting development kit targeting perpetually powered wireless sensor networks based on the ultra-low-power MSP430 microcontroller. Priced at $149 USD, the tool provides all the hardware and software necessary to use the MSP430F2274 microcontroller and CC2500 2.4-GHz wireless transceiver. It includes a USB debugging interface that allows for real-time, in-system debugging and programming for the MSP430, and it is also the interface to transfer data to a PC from your wireless system.
eZ430-Chronos Development Watch: Chronos is a development platform in a sports watch. Based on the CC430F6137 MCU+RF System-on-chip, the Chronos offers sub-1GHz RF communication, 96 segment LCD display, 3-axis accelerometer, pressure sensor, buzzer, push buttons, and voltage reader. The kit is completely reprogrammable, and also includes an RF USB module for wireless communication between the Chronos and PC. A USB emulator is also included to allow the watch to be reprogrammed.
Experimenter Boards – Experimenter Boards feature select MSP430 devices and include additional hardware components to take advantage of the high level of analog integration available for easier system evaluation and protyping. These are suitable for learning the MSP430 architecture, testing the capabilities and range available peripherals and include integrated headers for plugging in low-power RF modules.
The MSP430F5438 Experimenter Board (MSP-EXP430F5438) is a development platform for the latest generation MSP430 microcontrollers. It features a 100-pin socket which supports the MSP430F5438 (datasheet) and other devices with similar pin out. The socket allows for quick upgrades to newer devices or quick applications changes. It is compatible with many TI low-power RF wireless evaluation modules such as the CC2520EMK. The Experimenter Board helps designers learn and develop using the new F5xx for applications such as energy harvesting, wireless sensing and automatic metering infrastructure (AMI).
The MSP430G2xx LaunchPad (MSP-EXP430G2) is a complete hardware and software development platform built specifically for the new MSP430 Value Line microcontroller devices (MSP430G2xx). For $4.30, LaunchPad provides built-in flash emulation and debugging over USB, a DIP target socket supporting up to 20 pins, 2 programmable pushbuttons, and 2 programmable LEDs. LaunchPad also offers downloadable and free code-limited versions of Code Composer Studio and IAR Embedded Workbench for software development. An active online community also supports LaunchPad and MSP430 Value Line microcontroller development.
Debugging and Programming Interfaces: TI offers USB and Parallel Port Emulation Tools (FET) supporting complete in-system development for JTAG (4 wire) and Spy-Bi-Wire (2 wire – USB only). Programming, assembler/C-source level debug, single stepping, multiple hardware breakpoints, full speed operation and peripheral access are all fully supported in-system. This interface can be used with any development board with a JTAG header.
Designers can use the $199 USD MSP-GANG430 or build their own interface. The MSP-GANG430 is a Flash device programmer which can program up to eight targets simultaneously either as stand alone or in-system using a JTAG connection. The MSP-GANG430 can operate stand-alone or connected to the host PC via a standard RS232 serial connection.
The MSP-FET430UIF is a USB JTAG debugger and programmer interface sold with the FET tools. This interface can be used with any development board with a JTAG header. The MSP-FET430PIF is the same type of interface, but it uses the PC Parallel port.
Those developers in the MSP430L092 can use the MSP-TS430L092 target board. This 14-pin socket target board offers a true 0.9V evaluation and testing environment, while still allowing seamless debugging with traditional 3V interfaces. The complete MSP430L092 development kit includes 2 separate PCB boards, the MSP-TS430L092 target board and a 3V-to-1.5V level shifter. These 2 boards can then interface with the typical MSP-FET430UIF tool for development. Using the 3V-to-1.5V level shifter, the MSP-TS430L092 target board can transparently interface to debug the 0.9V MSP430L092 microcontroller using the traditional MSP430 IDEs such CCS or IAR Embedded Workbench.
On most MSP430 devices, the bootstrap loader (BSL) is part of factory-masked ROM and can be implemented via a software UART. Single devices are programmed either stand-alone or in-system. Program, verify, read out and segment erase are password protected.
For high-volume OEM customers, masked ROM and factory programmed Flash devices can be ordered. The ROM process takes approximately 8 to 12 weeks from the receipt of a customer's verified code to the production of the first silicon. Flash devices take approximately 6 to 8 weeks. A customer-specific coded part number will be released.
TI's FETs are JTAG-based, real-time in-system emulation kits available for all Flash-based devices. Programming, assembler/C-source level debug, single stepping, multiple hardware breakpoints, full-speed operation and peripheral access are all fully supported in-system using JTAG.
MSP430 devices may also be programmed by manual and automated production programming systems from third party vendors such as SoftBaugh, BP Microsystems, Data I/O and Elprotronic.