MSP430 LaunchPad Dev Kit – Open Source?

Hello all, I'd like to use some sort of open source software with the MSP430 dev kit. Does anyone know if Eclipse will work with TI's MSP430 LaunchPad development kit?

I believe there is a free version of Code Composer Studio from TI. Granted it's not the full version.

"TI Code Composer Studio Page":http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/ccstudio.html

It looks like you can get an evaluation version of the full version for 120 days too. So if you decide you need it, and you can get everything done in 4 months...

I did a Google search for open source options, I found a few pages that seem like people have tried doing things with the Launchpad with Eclipse and Linux, but I don't know how reliable that would be.

I know a lot of engineers are gaga over doing things with open source solutions (we have one in my applications group), but I guess I'm on the other side of the fence where sometimes I think it's more trouble than it's worth. If you are doing something to try and make a profit and are trying to save money by avoiding the purchase of IDE tools I can certainly understand the urge, but the risk of shooting yourself in the foot and ending up spending way more in engineering time due to software problems and lack of supplier available support seems too great for me personally.

I considered the "open source" direction only to help support the hobby side of the field of people who would not be able to afford a software toolset.

Your right, if I'm trying to make a profit and or save time I should use the manufacturers tools.

I plan to use the TI tools to get the project up and running right away. But, I would like to be able to use open source tools as well for my projects. Keeping my options open.

I've used TI Code Composer Studio by the past, it's a really nice software: clear interface and it quickly gets along with TI products and dev boards/kits.

I am not sure with their license system, two months ago, after installing CCSv4 on my personal computer, I applied for the "free" license to program a Stellaris LM3S9B92. I didn't get any trouble with it so far. But I am quiet sure I am using a 120 days license, the license name was not obvious when registering...

Anyway CCS is a good software, I recommend it!

Thank you Francois. I had forgotten about CCS. I used CCS with the Microchip products several years ago. Easy to use.

You are probably thinking of CSS (Custom Computer Services) which makes a nice lower/medium cost compiler for PIC processors.

Code Composer Studio version 4 is Texas Instrument's Eclipse based IDE that is used to develop for most of their processors. While not open source, there is a perpetual free version that lets you develop up to 16k of code for the MSP430 and 32k for the C2000. In the case of the launchpad the largest of the MSP430G series chips is 8k so you can code to your heart's content without worries of bumping up on any limitations.
Take note of the download page on TI's Wiki http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/Download_CCS

The Stellars parts have different rules of which I'm not completely sure. I believe as long as you are using an onboard or XDS100 based programmer/debugger a person is fine using the CCS full version indefinitely.

Hey Ben, you are correct. I was thinking about Custom Computer Services, I stand corrected. Also, thank you for the info on Code Composer Studio. Very helpful.

TI CCS is actually Eclipse, they have just bundled it with the C/C++ environment, and many other proprietary plugins.

There are several versions of gcc that support the MSP430 chips, including the Launchpad. Try searching the TI forum for the messages about Mac support (since a Mac won't run the TI tools.) Also check for "MSPDEBUG", open source SW to talk to the jtag spy-bi-wire debug interface, with gdb on the other side.

Configuring a GUI like Eclipse to use the gnu tools is a separate issue, I guess. It should be possible.