Hey guys, just saw the post and thought I would throw my 2 cents worth in.
I've been using the MSP430 for a while, though I do have the benefit of using it at school which made it easy to get started. I love the processors though. I've used Parallex years ago when I was learning, liked it a lot, its why I still watch the site sometimes.
First, I really wouldn't recommend writing in ASM, the C compiler for the MSP is awesome and is quite compact. Also, most of the community sites write their code in C (not that there are many community sites).
Also, one thing that a lot of people don't know about the LauncPad, is that it can program a pretty wide range of MSP430 chips some of which have quite a lot more program space than the ones that come with the kit.
Hope that was somewhat helpful.
-NJC
PS: I'm not sure if Digikey still has them in stock, but I ordered 2 from Digikey about a week ago and they both already came.
I am most interested in the cheap 2kb MSP430 parts.
With this little memory I will probably code only in asm.
2kb should give me room for hundreds of 16bit asm lines?
I should be able to fit something useful in there. I will
give the free C compiler a try though. it might surprise
me and be nearly as tight as asm.
Of course I code a lot in asm on my 128kb AVRs...
I'm just stubborn and strange.. LoL.
NJC
I just went to that blog site, very nice.
I assume it is your blog site?
Post Edited (HollyMinkowski) : 7/17/2010 11:28:50 AM GMT
Yay, ASM! Those of us who ascribe to the "If you want something done right, do it yourself" philosophy love Assembly. We also tend to wash our hands a lot. [noparse];)[/noparse]
PS: Your blog now occupies a place in my favorites tab! I love it!
I like it as well. Only one criticism: I'd have included a delay in the AVR example, so one can see it blinking. It'll introduce the concept of a sub-routine, as well, at an early stage.
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Leon Heller
Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
Martin Hodge said...
Your blog now occupies a place in my favorites tab! I love it!
WoW, thanks
If you or anyone else notices a goof on the blog please tell
me because I sure don't want errors to perplex asm newbies.
I'm coding several different dialects of asm and I just hope I
don't mix them up. I am pretty rushed for time and have to
dash off what I can for the blog as fast as I can...and that means
some typos and errors might creep in.
Franklin said...
what are you using to color the syntax in the avr code example?
I just set the new black background color and the different text colors using
AVR Studio. I think the color preferences are contained in a file named
AvrStudio.ini it is a small file and I could send you a copy of mine if
you want to match the colors I use. I find it easier to see typos and
keep track of things with these colors on a black background.
@Leon
The next 2 programs will blink the same LED.
One will have a timer overflow handle the blinking
and the other a pin change interrupt controlled by
a switch. I wanted that first program to be the simplest
"Hello World" I could do while still keeping it complete
and accurate.
I need to get a post up for Propeller PASM coding...I don't want
to give it short shrift. I'd put up stuff for ARM but I'm just so
bored with writing code for ARM, it's all I ever seem to get to
do these days.
Do you guys think I'm going slowly enough for newbies?
Should I have included a lot more hand-holding for things
like computer math? Is the wiring clear on the breadboard
from the images? Or should I do something like flatten the
pins out on a Tiny85 and carefully solder the parts to it
point-to-point and take images of that? What I need is some
feedback from actually newbies to tell me what is not clear
enough.
I signed up at youtube today so I can post short vids of the
asm projects actually running...there is nothing there yet
but there will be soon. www.youtube.com/user/haminkowski
You're doing fine for me. I've been looking for an introduction to AVR assembly. The two other docs I found for AVR asm are rambling and incoherent. I like your tutorial (step by step) approach.
That is where I looked, of course. The documentation there is, in my opinion, not of the caliber of what Holly wrote. (And we were talking about ASM, not C.)
Thank you! And yes, it is my blog. I guess I just don't like ASM because of how much I hated the class I took which forced us to program in it. I definitely respect the ability of ASM to create amazingly clean and time sensitive code though.
As for going to slow or fast in the blog, I find if you hold hands too much you loose a large audience who doesn't want to read so much to get up and running. I think the best approach is to link to some resources you know of for topics you may not want to go super in depth with.
Btw, I really do like the format of your blog also. Great colors and great images! I have a hard time sometimes trying to figure out which images to supplement my posts with, you do a great job!
I look at your site every day, It's getting better and better
The idea about putting up links to good resources about topics
I don't want to dwell on is a good one! I will start doing that.
I like to post a lot of images. Soon I will post a lot of videos too.
I am having trouble finding some of the software I need to create
the videos though. I need something (preferably freeware) that
can record a video of what is happening on the computer screen
and record me talking at the same time. I have an artists touch
pad that you draw on with a stylus and I'd like for the software to
allow me to draw on the screen with it so I can highlight stuff and
make the videos clearer.
HollyMinkowski said...
a lot of images. Soon I will post a lot of videos too.
I am having trouble finding some of the software I need to create
the videos though. I need something (preferably freeware) that
can record a video of what is happening on the computer screen
and record me talking at the same time. I have an artists touch
pad that you draw on with a stylus and I'd like for the software to
allow me to draw on the screen with it so I can highlight stuff and
make the videos clearer.
Holly,
I look forward to reading your blog.
You can cheat by taking a picture, highlight it with paint or something and then videotape it.· You don't always need special software to accomplish what you want to do.· You can create slides this way.
Thank you Holly Its good to know someone out there reads my posts.
As for the video editor. Look into windows live movie maker. It's by far not the best video software out there and it might not do everything you want it to, but it is free and is pretty full of features. Hope it works out for you.
-NJC
_______________________________ msp430launchpad.blogspot.com - A blog about the MSP430 LaunchPad, for both beginners and experts.
Thanks NJC
I will look at windows live movie maker
When my MSP430 kits come in I will start making MSP430
posts on my blog and I will include a link to your blog.
I'm hoping to be making a lot of small projects with the 430's.
Some of the guys here and I are going to make a purchase of
1000 uC's to get a super low price on them... So we will
each have a pile
The TI site says they are 500 USD/1000 for the 2kb parts
but I still have not figured out how to actually place the
order, their estore really sux big time.
(maybe the server is powered by a 430..LoL)
p.s. You should post the url in your tagline like this so that
it will be a clickable link.
To order in quantities that high directly from TI you have to go through a sales representative. Its pretty easy to do, just not convenient.
I would recommend looking at Digikey and maybe buying 100 as a group. Also keep in mind that the MSP430F2013 (and I'm sure other chips too) can be placed directly in the socket on the LaunchPad and that has an SD16 ADC which is really cool to have. I just wouldn't want you guys getting 1000 chips and wishing you got a different one with other peripherals. Also, within the next few months TI plans on rolling out tons of new "Value Line" devices with more peripherals, who knows though when that will happen.
Best of luck! I will be looking forward to your blogs about the MSP430.
______________________________ msp430launchpad.blogspot.com - A blog about the MSP430 LaunchPad, for both beginners and experts.
I think TI started to ship the (MSP430 Launchpad) backorders. I have just checked my order status·at TI webpage -Order Status- and·my order·status·was shipped, however I have not received yet! What about you, have you·received yours?
I just checked and our Launchpads still have not shipped. @#$%^
This is like being back in school and waiting for summer holiday.
Anyway, I just finished the first PASM post on my blog (finally)
Probably some typos as I rushed at the last... just started on the next
AVR posting, perhaps I can finish it before it gets too late here.
It's just the hardest thing, to keep something simple enough that
newbies can follow along.
Will get up an MSP430 asm post as soon as my kits come in
I've just ordered a couple of samples of the top of the range MSP430G2231IN14 (it's got an ADC), and will make my own PCB, for use with the TI USB-FET debugger.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Leon Heller
Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
SX proto boards @5.00. More real estate to solder on.
The item you mention is a very, very good deal - if Parallax were to sel their SX-Key and Demo-board for the same price with books it might come close.
But as you can see Texas Instruments doesn't really want to take a huge loss on this 'promotional stunt'. They won't complete my order to Taiwan.
I just got 8 delivered in about 4 days to Taiwan. I'm happy. (I also finally got two of the Propeller books that are absolutely terrific!)
The thing about the Msp430 is that the basic unit is tiny, cheap and cute. But the added features take a huge jump up in price/unit. And you still need some real estate to interface.
Both are good. But I feel Parallax is indeed more helpful.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Ain't gadetry a wonderful thing?
aka G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse] 黃鶴 ] in Taiwan
Post Edited (Loopy Byteloose) : 7/31/2010 12:07:18 PM GMT
After I read this post I checked and our starter kits were delivered
yesterday afternoon. Yipee :-)
I got the list and passed them all out, everyone was playing with them
and getting little work done LoL.
I emptied my 3 kits into a single box and brought them home. Those
32.768 xtals are nearly microscopic! It would be nice to have 5mhz
xtals for the prop in this size.
What a bargain for just over 12.00US
Nice that they put in USB cables, can always use a few extras. They
have to be out some serious $ running this starter kit deal.
Now if I can just find the time to play with these things. Its
been super busy around here.
Mouser will not re-stock until 9/24/10. Newark and Digi-key are out to...UGHH. I really want to get my hands on a couple of em'. It is a whole development kit for less than 5 bucks!!
Comments
I was trying to say 25mips but got confused
I just changed the page.
I'm so sick of coding the ARM every day that I'm not
even going to put up any asm code for it ......LoL
I've been using the MSP430 for a while, though I do have the benefit of using it at school which made it easy to get started. I love the processors though. I've used Parallex years ago when I was learning, liked it a lot, its why I still watch the site sometimes.
First, I really wouldn't recommend writing in ASM, the C compiler for the MSP is awesome and is quite compact. Also, most of the community sites write their code in C (not that there are many community sites).
Also, one thing that a lot of people don't know about the LauncPad, is that it can program a pretty wide range of MSP430 chips some of which have quite a lot more program space than the ones that come with the kit.
Hope that was somewhat helpful.
-NJC
PS: I'm not sure if Digikey still has them in stock, but I ordered 2 from Digikey about a week ago and they both already came.
_________________________________
http://msp430launchpad.blogspot.com - A blog about the MSP430 LaunchPad, for both beginners and experts.
I am most interested in the cheap 2kb MSP430 parts.
With this little memory I will probably code only in asm.
2kb should give me room for hundreds of 16bit asm lines?
I should be able to fit something useful in there. I will
give the free C compiler a try though. it might surprise
me and be nearly as tight as asm.
Of course I code a lot in asm on my 128kb AVRs...
I'm just stubborn and strange.. LoL.
NJC
I just went to that blog site, very nice.
I assume it is your blog site?
Post Edited (HollyMinkowski) : 7/17/2010 11:28:50 AM GMT
PS: Your blog now occupies a place in my favorites tab! I love it!
Thanks,
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
- Stephen
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Leon Heller
Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
WoW, thanks
If you or anyone else notices a goof on the blog please tell
me because I sure don't want errors to perplex asm newbies.
I'm coding several different dialects of asm and I just hope I
don't mix them up. I am pretty rushed for time and have to
dash off what I can for the blog as fast as I can...and that means
some typos and errors might creep in.
I just set the new black background color and the different text colors using
AVR Studio. I think the color preferences are contained in a file named
AvrStudio.ini it is a small file and I could send you a copy of mine if
you want to match the colors I use. I find it easier to see typos and
keep track of things with these colors on a black background.
@Leon
The next 2 programs will blink the same LED.
One will have a timer overflow handle the blinking
and the other a pin change interrupt controlled by
a switch. I wanted that first program to be the simplest
"Hello World" I could do while still keeping it complete
and accurate.
I need to get a post up for Propeller PASM coding...I don't want
to give it short shrift. I'd put up stuff for ARM but I'm just so
bored with writing code for ARM, it's all I ever seem to get to
do these days.
Do you guys think I'm going slowly enough for newbies?
Should I have included a lot more hand-holding for things
like computer math? Is the wiring clear on the breadboard
from the images? Or should I do something like flatten the
pins out on a Tiny85 and carefully solder the parts to it
point-to-point and take images of that? What I need is some
feedback from actually newbies to tell me what is not clear
enough.
I signed up at youtube today so I can post short vids of the
asm projects actually running...there is nothing there yet
but there will be soon.
www.youtube.com/user/haminkowski
imakeprojects.com/Projects/avr-tutorial/
is an example of how to get started using C.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Leon Heller
Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
Thank you! And yes, it is my blog. I guess I just don't like ASM because of how much I hated the class I took which forced us to program in it. I definitely respect the ability of ASM to create amazingly clean and time sensitive code though.
As for going to slow or fast in the blog, I find if you hold hands too much you loose a large audience who doesn't want to read so much to get up and running. I think the best approach is to link to some resources you know of for topics you may not want to go super in depth with.
Btw, I really do like the format of your blog also. Great colors and great images! I have a hard time sometimes trying to figure out which images to supplement my posts with, you do a great job!
I look at your site every day, It's getting better and better
The idea about putting up links to good resources about topics
I don't want to dwell on is a good one! I will start doing that.
I like to post a lot of images. Soon I will post a lot of videos too.
I am having trouble finding some of the software I need to create
the videos though. I need something (preferably freeware) that
can record a video of what is happening on the computer screen
and record me talking at the same time. I have an artists touch
pad that you draw on with a stylus and I'd like for the software to
allow me to draw on the screen with it so I can highlight stuff and
make the videos clearer.
I look forward to reading your blog.
You can cheat by taking a picture, highlight it with paint or something and then videotape it.· You don't always need special software to accomplish what you want to do.· You can create slides this way.
Chuck
As for the video editor. Look into windows live movie maker. It's by far not the best video software out there and it might not do everything you want it to, but it is free and is pretty full of features. Hope it works out for you.
-NJC
_______________________________
msp430launchpad.blogspot.com - A blog about the MSP430 LaunchPad, for both beginners and experts.
Post Edited (NJC) : 7/20/2010 12:03:06 PM GMT
I will look at windows live movie maker
When my MSP430 kits come in I will start making MSP430
posts on my blog and I will include a link to your blog.
I'm hoping to be making a lot of small projects with the 430's.
Some of the guys here and I are going to make a purchase of
1000 uC's to get a super low price on them... So we will
each have a pile
The TI site says they are 500 USD/1000 for the 2kb parts
but I still have not figured out how to actually place the
order, their estore really sux big time.
(maybe the server is powered by a 430..LoL)
p.s. You should post the url in your tagline like this so that
it will be a clickable link.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
justasm.blogspot.com/
Post Edited (HollyMinkowski) : 7/20/2010 11:30:36 AM GMT
To order in quantities that high directly from TI you have to go through a sales representative. Its pretty easy to do, just not convenient.
I would recommend looking at Digikey and maybe buying 100 as a group. Also keep in mind that the MSP430F2013 (and I'm sure other chips too) can be placed directly in the socket on the LaunchPad and that has an SD16 ADC which is really cool to have. I just wouldn't want you guys getting 1000 chips and wishing you got a different one with other peripherals. Also, within the next few months TI plans on rolling out tons of new "Value Line" devices with more peripherals, who knows though when that will happen.
Best of luck! I will be looking forward to your blogs about the MSP430.
______________________________
msp430launchpad.blogspot.com - A blog about the MSP430 LaunchPad, for both beginners and experts.
I hope they come out with the 20 pin "value line" dip's soon; there is never enough I/O...
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
www.mikronauts.com E-mail: mikronauts _at_ gmail _dot_ com
My products: Morpheus / Mem+ / PropCade / FlexMem / VMCOG / Propteus / Proteus / SerPlug
and 6.250MHz Crystals to run Propellers at 100MHz & 5.0" OEM TFT VGA LCD modules
Las - Large model assembler Largos - upcoming nano operating system
This is like being back in school and waiting for summer holiday.
Anyway, I just finished the first PASM post on my blog (finally)
Probably some typos as I rushed at the last... just started on the next
AVR posting, perhaps I can finish it before it gets too late here.
It's just the hardest thing, to keep something simple enough that
newbies can follow along.
Will get up an MSP430 asm post as soon as my kits come in
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
justasm.blogspot.com/
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
"WOAH! that wasn't supposed to happen!"
e2e.ti.com/support/microcontrollers/msp43016-bit_ultra-low_power_mcus/f/166/t/58256.aspx
I've just ordered a couple of samples of the top of the range MSP430G2231IN14 (it's got an ADC), and will make my own PCB, for use with the TI USB-FET debugger.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Leon Heller
Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
Post Edited (Leon) : 7/31/2010 3:10:57 AM GMT
The item you mention is a very, very good deal - if Parallax were to sel their SX-Key and Demo-board for the same price with books it might come close.
But as you can see Texas Instruments doesn't really want to take a huge loss on this 'promotional stunt'. They won't complete my order to Taiwan.
Here is a real value.
http://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/362/Default.aspx?txtSearch=SX+boards
http://www.parallax.com/StoreSearchResults/tabid/768/List/0/SortField/4/ProductID/399/Default.aspx?txtSearch=SX+boards
I just got 8 delivered in about 4 days to Taiwan. I'm happy. (I also finally got two of the Propeller books that are absolutely terrific!)
The thing about the Msp430 is that the basic unit is tiny, cheap and cute. But the added features take a huge jump up in price/unit. And you still need some real estate to interface.
Both are good. But I feel Parallax is indeed more helpful.
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Ain't gadetry a wonderful thing?
aka G. Herzog [noparse][[/noparse] 黃鶴 ] in Taiwan
Post Edited (Loopy Byteloose) : 7/31/2010 12:07:18 PM GMT
tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/msp430/
e2e.ti.com/support/microcontrollers/msp43016-bit_ultra-low_power_mcus/f/166.aspx
Here is the schematic for my board:
www.leonheller.com/Designs/MSP430G2131.pdf
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Leon Heller
Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
Post Edited (Leon) : 7/31/2010 5:02:57 PM GMT
This is a very nice starter kit for the price.
After I read this post I checked and our starter kits were delivered
yesterday afternoon. Yipee :-)
I got the list and passed them all out, everyone was playing with them
and getting little work done LoL.
I emptied my 3 kits into a single box and brought them home. Those
32.768 xtals are nearly microscopic! It would be nice to have 5mhz
xtals for the prop in this size.
What a bargain for just over 12.00US
Nice that they put in USB cables, can always use a few extras. They
have to be out some serious $ running this starter kit deal.
Now if I can just find the time to play with these things. Its
been super busy around here.
It's a nice kit, all things considered. I've never worked with this chip before. At this price, it's worth it to learn a few things.
When did you order yours? I placed my order June 25 and haven't heard anything yet.