Reply by Jon Kirwan July 10, 20132013-07-10
On Wed, 10 Jul 2013 14:58:59 +0800, Peter wrote:

>I have downloaded the latest software from TI for the FET. It says I need a
>license key. What gives? I am using assembler only and this has been
>completely free in the past. Do I need to do anything special or should I
>use an older version?

If my memory is serving...

For a while, IAR maintained a separate way of downloading
their own "kickstart" version at their site, which was a very
little bit different from the compiled version they provided
TI's site. You could get either version and get a very
similar product -- almost the same, so far as I could tell.
But IAR required you to register in order to get a license
key -- even though it was still a limited "kickstart"
edition.

I haven't recently downloaded TI's distribution, but from
what you say above I would guess that IAR is NO LONGER
providing a version to TI's site that can be used without
first giving your name and other information to IAR. In
short, IAR may have stopped the practice of giving TI a
version that doesn't require a sign-up.

I'll bet you can still get the license for free. But you
probably have to give your info to get it.

For assembly, you can just use an older version I think. The
only risk I can think of is that the assembler "knows" about
various TI "errata" (such as CPU4) and may make pseudo-op
adjustments to your assembly code that depends upon the
target and, because the edition is older, may not know about
newer CPUs and their errata. But I'm just guessing. It may be
the case that their assembler acts the same no matter what
the target is -- I've not tested it to find out.

(Personally, I don't like assemblers that silently change my
assembly code no matter how "good" the justification may be.
But I seem to recall that certain constants from the cpu
constant generator, for example, cannot work as originally
supposed to work and I think the assembler "fixes" these,
quietly.)

I'd not worry about giving IAR my information. But if this is
a case where you are suggesting something to other people you
don't know (students at a school, for example), then you may
want to recommend an older edition that doesn't require
registration and licensing. Some people simply don't want to
provide it or maybe don't have the ability to provide a
working email account (oddball country that is blocked or
doesn't allow citizens to use gmail or whatever.)

Jon

Beginning Microcontrollers with the MSP430

Reply by Peter Grey July 10, 20132013-07-10
Hi

I have downloaded the latest software from TI for the FET. It says I need a
license key. What gives? I am using assembler only and this has been
completely free in the past. Do I need to do anything special or should I
use an older version?

Thanks

Peter

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