We now have the basics of an MSP430 on a breadboard.
 

The MSP-FET supports both JTAG and Spy-Bi-Wire connections – in choosing between these you’re basically trading off speed (JTAG) for fewer pins (SBW). As we’re working with a 20-pin microcontroller, I’ve chosen the Spy-Bi-Wire, happy to trade speed for fewer pins. I’ve also used the MSP-FET to power the project.

When connecting the pins on the FET, take note that the pinout diagram on the back of the FET is as you would look at it on a PCB – in other words it is a mirror of the pins on the end of the connector. If you’re not sure, use a Multimeter to test the GND and VCC_TOOL pins. Once you’re sure of the orientation:

Create a new project in Code Composer Studio, and copy the below code into the main.c module. The code is quite straightforward, as I’ve avoided using Timers for the sake of simplicity (if you want to know more about timers, then check out this post).

#include <msp430.h> 

/*
 * main.c
 */
int main(void) {
   WDTCTL = WDTPW | WDTHOLD;	// Stop watchdog timer

   P2DIR |= (1<<2);	//Set p2.2 as output;

   while (1)
   {

      volatile unsigned int i;	

      //Set delay by counting
      i=0;
      do
      {i++;
      }
      while (i<20000);

      //Toggle pin P2.2
      P2OUT ^= (1<<2);

   }
	
   return 0;
}

Once you’ve entered the code, give it a quick compile to check that there are no errors.

The USB drivers are installed as part of Code Composer Studio (CCS), but may take a few minutes to recognise the hardware. When you upload code to your breadboard, CCS checks whether the firmware on the MSP-FET is up to date – if not, then you’ll be prompted to upgrade.

If you’ve used a LaunchPad before, then the FET works exactly the same. Click on the little bug icon (or hit F11), and away you go. If you’re new to using the CCS debugger, then I recommend taking a look at the CCS Wiki page.