This article describes brief steps to setup a Linux development tools for MSP430 MCU – compiler and programmer. MSP430 is not as well linux-supported as AVR or 8051 but fortunately there are ways to make it working.

GCC

The easiest way for users of Debian and derived distributions is to add following repository to /etc/apt/sources.list:

deb http://merlin.fit.vutbr.cz/FITkit/download/debian debian fitkit

Then run as root:

# wget http://merlin.fit.vutbr.cz/FITkit/download/debian/debkey.asc -O- | apt-key add -
# apt-get update
# apt-get install msp430-devtools

After that you will have full toolchain. Lets try to compile the following C source:

#include <io.h>

void wait(void)          //delay function
{
  volatile int i;        //declare i as volatile int
  for(i=0;i<32000;i++);  //repeat 32000 times
}

int main(void)
{
  WDTCTL = WDTPW | WDTHOLD;

  P1DIR=0xFF;            //port 1 = output
  P1OUT=0x01;            //set bit 0 in port 1

  for(;;) {              //infinite loop
    P1OUT=~P1OUT;        //invert port 1
    wait();              //call delay function
  }

}

Compile the source and generate output suitable for programming the MCU:

$ msp430-gcc -Os -mmcu=msp430x2234 -o test.elf test.c
$ msp430-objdump -DS test.elf > test.lst      # assembler output
$ msp430-objcopy -O ihex test.elf test.hex
$ ls
test.c  test.elf  test.hex  test.lst

It’s done!

Programming

For this purpose there is all-in-one tool called mspdebug. It was originaly created for EZ430-RF2500 but now it supports all the MSP430 programmers. I’ve tested it with the RF2500 programmer. The easiest way to program the MCU’s flash is to run the following command:

$ mspdebug -R "prog test.hex"
MSPDebug version 0.6 - debugging tool for MSP430 MCUs
Copyright (C) 2009, 2010 Daniel Beer <daniel@tortek.co.nz>
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Trying to open interface 1 on 002
rf2500: warning: can't detach kernel driver: No data available
FET protocol version is 30000002
Configured for Spy-Bi-Wire
Set Vcc: 3000 mV
Device: MSP430F22xx
Erasing...
Writing 120 bytes to e000...
Writing  32 bytes to ffe0...

It’s done!

Debugging

Next time…