WRITING CODE TO MSP430 !!

I am actually suspecting that my code will exceed 4KB . Please tell me if using IAR is really a better option, coz, the software is very expensive.

Ankit Agarwal said:

But there's a limit to the size of the data that can be written to the memory, which is 4KB. I found a little detail on How to program via BSL ??

It's not that IAR cannot/will not writ emroe than 4k to the MSP, it is that the compiler/linker will not generate any larger binary from any source.

So you're unable to create larger data with the free version of the compiler. You'll need to buy the full version or to use a different compiler if you want to compile code that results in more than 4k binary size.,

BSL won't help you there at all. It requires a binary file which the free IAR compiler won't produce for you (at least not for >4k size)

You can go for the free version of CCS (I think the limit is 16k there) or totally free mspgcc (no code limit, but code that requires using the flash above 64k may be not 100% reliable yet, as the compiler is still under development)

I've tried CCS and IAR - IAR is better  for me.

Try the 30 day evaluation so that  you can test your >4kB code

http://supp.iar.com/Download/SW/?item=EW430-EVAL.

Jens-Michael Gross said:

You can go for the free version of CCS (I think the limit is 16k there) or totally free mspgcc (no code limit, but code that requires using the flash above 64k may be not 100% reliable yet, as the compiler is still under development)

 You can also raise IAR limit to 16K to compile simpliciTI but this is an annoying task. On the past I choosed Quadravox compiler, It was a good compromise cost/performance, today I don't work no more as professional and I decided to use Linux due to many trouble I got from Winzz... so:

 1> IAR is unlimited from assembly code but no more than 4K of C  code can be linked, I wrote in the past some program that strip out all constant and string from code and move to assembly file. Same trick was implemented with replicator to embed code to programmer.

 I only use IAR free version in a VBox, it is good for small project and to solve Elprotronic lack of Linux support.

 2> Free CCS version has 16K limit on C code,  is available to M$ and Linux platform, in Linux is still beta code but acceptable stage, CCS cover all of TI processors.

 It cost 445$ for a personal single user license.

 3> Rowley associates Crossworks has Linux and m$ version, personal license cost $150 cover also Stellaris and TI arm but not C2xxx series. Lack of Elprotronic support (?)

 4>GCC cover a large part of TI processor but MSP430 CPUX doesn't work better.

 5> Quadravox has a free limited and unlimited @ $395  http://www.quadravox.com/AQ430.htm no more mentioned in TI list.

 CCS and Gcc are generally using eclipse as IDE, TI plugins seems to be Eclipse only @ this moment.

 Regards

 Roberto

Rame said:

Try the 30 day evaluation so that  you can test your >4kB code

 Hi Rame, yes good idea, I used to do maintenance  to an old project but remember 30 day elapse so fast and you cannot get another license on same pc.

 Regards.

 Roberto