On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 1:54 PM, PFG wrote:
> Hello, I just received my LaunchPad board and of
course I joined this group. I'm a veteran software engineer with some
hardware experience (physical circuit building, not just embedded or firmware
coding) but I'm new to MSP430 development. What's the best development
environment? Code Composer, IAR, MSPGCC, or Energia?
There is no "best" environment, there is only what is best for you.
If you like Eclipse and can deal with code size limitations, the free
version of CCS is probably best for you.
Be aware that you can use TIs compilers from the command line, so you
can roll your own dev environment using them.
If you want an unrestricted (free as in beer, free as in speech)
toolchain, mspgcc is the way to go.
If you want a fast, lightweight IDE with good support and are willing
to pay for it, choose IAR.
If you want a supported toolchain for OSX, choose Crossworks.
My personal preference is mspgcc + emacs + make. YMMV.
-p.
What's the best MSP430 Development Enviroment?
Started by ●February 6, 2013
Reply by ●February 6, 20132013-02-06
Reply by ●February 6, 20132013-02-06
I am currently using CCS and that is cheap also.
It is good enough for development .
yes IAR is good also but you need to pay the price for it.
It is good enough for development .
yes IAR is good also but you need to pay the price for it.
Reply by ●February 6, 20132013-02-06
I really like Crossworks, but was forced into using CCS due to some
budgetary constraints. I found the v5 CCS to be capable, but Rowley beats
CCS when it comes to optimization. I did a test (last month), where a
release version of my code under CCS code was 12.5K and under Rowley was
10.1K.
-Bill
budgetary constraints. I found the v5 CCS to be capable, but Rowley beats
CCS when it comes to optimization. I did a test (last month), where a
release version of my code under CCS code was 12.5K and under Rowley was
10.1K.
-Bill
Reply by ●February 6, 20132013-02-06
On 6 Feb 2013, at 22:32, William Sell wrote:
> I really like Crossworks, but was forced into using CCS due to some
> budgetary constraints. I found the v5 CCS to be capable, but Rowley beats
> CCS when it comes to optimization. I did a test (last month), where a
> release version of my code under CCS code was 12.5K and under Rowley was
> 10.1K.
>
The unfortunate thing is that TI have effectively killed any 3P compiler ecosystem for the MSP430 by introducing Code Composer for the MSP430. Both Quadravox and ImageCraft are no longer enhancing their MSP430 compilers, and HI-TECH never really got any steam up with their offering before Microchip acquired them and canned all non-PIC product.
So, current independent compiler vendors maintaining product for MSP430? IAR and Rowley Associates. That's it. We continue to push out new releases, and have done since 2003, and continue to support existing customers. But will we put a huge effort into MSP430 compilers? No. TI have zero interest in fostering independent compiler tools for MSP430.
-- Paul.
> I really like Crossworks, but was forced into using CCS due to some
> budgetary constraints. I found the v5 CCS to be capable, but Rowley beats
> CCS when it comes to optimization. I did a test (last month), where a
> release version of my code under CCS code was 12.5K and under Rowley was
> 10.1K.
>
The unfortunate thing is that TI have effectively killed any 3P compiler ecosystem for the MSP430 by introducing Code Composer for the MSP430. Both Quadravox and ImageCraft are no longer enhancing their MSP430 compilers, and HI-TECH never really got any steam up with their offering before Microchip acquired them and canned all non-PIC product.
So, current independent compiler vendors maintaining product for MSP430? IAR and Rowley Associates. That's it. We continue to push out new releases, and have done since 2003, and continue to support existing customers. But will we put a huge effort into MSP430 compilers? No. TI have zero interest in fostering independent compiler tools for MSP430.
-- Paul.
Reply by ●February 6, 20132013-02-06
a big plus is cross works is NOT eclipse based, heck a couple more pluses for
that!
and the team at Rowley are great at support ( much better than IAR which is the other non-eclipse IDE choice).
even at the commercial price it's a good deal.
and the team at Rowley are great at support ( much better than IAR which is the other non-eclipse IDE choice).
even at the commercial price it's a good deal.
Reply by ●February 6, 20132013-02-06
I have been using Crossworks for a couple years off and on. I'm a retired
EE and have largely used it for personal projects and educating my son. I love
it. Has every feature I've ever been exposed to elsewhere including
setting HW breakpoints using the MSP's logic analyzer internal bus
monitoring features that will trap on reads/write of address ranges, data or
instruction.
But the best reason to use it, is the incredible support you get from them. Almost every question gets a response/solution within a few hours if not sooner. And if you've been on this group for long you must have seen how generous that Paul Curtis is with his time in even helping those using other's products. Download it and try it out.
Nick Jensen
Monument, CO
But the best reason to use it, is the incredible support you get from them. Almost every question gets a response/solution within a few hours if not sooner. And if you've been on this group for long you must have seen how generous that Paul Curtis is with his time in even helping those using other's products. Download it and try it out.
Nick Jensen
Monument, CO
Reply by ●February 6, 20132013-02-06
I use IAR Kickstart. Not because I particuarly like it, it has some very
peculiar behaviour when it encounters simple problems. I use it because
in 1998/9 it was the only thing around, it's free, and because I write
in assembler there are no code size limits. It also meshes well with my
simple programming style. The IDE is not too bad, but not a patch on the
older Microchip one (which I haven't used for a few years now).
Al
peculiar behaviour when it encounters simple problems. I use it because
in 1998/9 it was the only thing around, it's free, and because I write
in assembler there are no code size limits. It also meshes well with my
simple programming style. The IDE is not too bad, but not a patch on the
older Microchip one (which I haven't used for a few years now).
Al
Reply by ●February 7, 20132013-02-07
They did indeed. We support our existing customers of course, but
there's
no point in fighting over what little scraps there is left.
On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 2:46 PM, Paul Curtis wrote:
> **
> The unfortunate thing is that TI have effectively killed any 3P compiler
> ecosystem for the MSP430 by introducing Code Composer for the MSP430. Both
> Quadravox and ImageCraft are no longer enhancing their MSP430 compilers,
> and HI-TECH never really got any steam up with their offering before
> Microchip acquired them and canned all non-PIC product.
>
> So, current independent compiler vendors maintaining product for MSP430?
> IAR and Rowley Associates. That's it. We continue to push out new releases,
> and have done since 2003, and continue to support existing customers. But
> will we put a huge effort into MSP430 compilers? No. TI have zero interest
> in fostering independent compiler tools for MSP430.
>
> -- Paul.
>
>
>
--
// richard m: richard @imagecraft.com
// portfolio: <http://www.dragonsgate.net/pub/richard/PICS/AnotherCalifornia
>
blog: http://rfman.wordpress.com
// book: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/745963
no point in fighting over what little scraps there is left.
On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 2:46 PM, Paul Curtis wrote:
> **
> The unfortunate thing is that TI have effectively killed any 3P compiler
> ecosystem for the MSP430 by introducing Code Composer for the MSP430. Both
> Quadravox and ImageCraft are no longer enhancing their MSP430 compilers,
> and HI-TECH never really got any steam up with their offering before
> Microchip acquired them and canned all non-PIC product.
>
> So, current independent compiler vendors maintaining product for MSP430?
> IAR and Rowley Associates. That's it. We continue to push out new releases,
> and have done since 2003, and continue to support existing customers. But
> will we put a huge effort into MSP430 compilers? No. TI have zero interest
> in fostering independent compiler tools for MSP430.
>
> -- Paul.
>
>
>
--
// richard m: richard @imagecraft.com
// portfolio: <http://www.dragonsgate.net/pub/richard/PICS/AnotherCalifornia
>
blog: http://rfman.wordpress.com
// book: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/745963
Reply by ●February 7, 20132013-02-07
On 06/02/2013 23:05, nfjensen123 wrote:
>
> I have been using Crossworks for a couple years off and on. I'm a
> retired EE and have largely used it for personal projects and educating
> my son. I love it. Has every feature I've ever been exposed to elsewhere
> including setting HW breakpoints using the MSP's logic analyzer internal
> bus monitoring features that will trap on reads/write of address ranges,
> data or instruction.
>
> But the best reason to use it, is the incredible support you get from
> them. Almost every question gets a response/solution within a few hours
> if not sooner. And if you've been on this group for long you must have
> seen how generous that Paul Curtis is with his time in even helping
> those using other's products. Download it and try it out.
Another plus is the excellent IDE, and being able to use the same IDE
for ARM development.
Leon
--
Leon Heller
G1HSM
>
> I have been using Crossworks for a couple years off and on. I'm a
> retired EE and have largely used it for personal projects and educating
> my son. I love it. Has every feature I've ever been exposed to elsewhere
> including setting HW breakpoints using the MSP's logic analyzer internal
> bus monitoring features that will trap on reads/write of address ranges,
> data or instruction.
>
> But the best reason to use it, is the incredible support you get from
> them. Almost every question gets a response/solution within a few hours
> if not sooner. And if you've been on this group for long you must have
> seen how generous that Paul Curtis is with his time in even helping
> those using other's products. Download it and try it out.
Another plus is the excellent IDE, and being able to use the same IDE
for ARM development.
Leon
--
Leon Heller
G1HSM
Reply by ●February 7, 20132013-02-07
On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 5:46 PM, Paul Curtis wrote:
> The unfortunate thing is that TI have effectively killed any 3P compiler ecosystem for the MSP430 by introducing Code Composer for the MSP430.
I am not sure I follow this. I am still relatively new to the MSP430,
but it seems as if TI has been offering a toolchain for the MSP430 for
as long as they have been producing them.
-p.
> The unfortunate thing is that TI have effectively killed any 3P compiler ecosystem for the MSP430 by introducing Code Composer for the MSP430.
I am not sure I follow this. I am still relatively new to the MSP430,
but it seems as if TI has been offering a toolchain for the MSP430 for
as long as they have been producing them.
-p.
