Getting started with MSP430/AVR32 UC3

[JimmyM]

I've been programming 8-bit AVRs (tiny/Mega) for a couple of years now and would like to try out the MSP430s.
Should I even bother or should I just go up to the AVR32 UC3s instead.

Does anyone have experience with both who also has an opinion?

Thanks, guys

[alm]

The MSP430 will give you experience with a different uC platform, but there is a large amount of overlap with the AVR from application point of view, so it's mostly a sideways move. A 32-bit MCU would be more different, although I don't see the point in choosing AVR32 instead of ARM Cortex at this point. Why tie yourself to a single vendor with a poor track record for availability and lead time when you can choose from the many ARM Cortex vendors?

[andyturk]

Another vote for ARM.

[cwalex]

if you have ever used the arduino you can get started straight away with the msp430 launchpad for $4.30 from here https://estore.ti.com/Product3.aspx?ProductId=2031

you can use energia which is a fork of the arduino ide for the msp430 launchpad http://energia.nu

You can't argue with that for $4.30 its a bargain!

[Harvs]

ARM or have a look at the PIC32, I'm enjoying working with them and you can pick up small dev kits easily.

I banged my head against the wall with AVR32 a year back.  The very poor level of documentation of their library framework was a continuous frustration.  Microchip have done a stunningly good job in comparison.

And yeah, availability of AVR32's can be difficult.

[mrflibble]

s/AVR32/STM32F4/g

Good to go!

If your time allows you only one new platform to learn, I'd say skip 16-bit country and go straight for a 32-bit arm mcu. Those stm32f4 discovery boards are pretty good value for money. If you want to have both a 16-bit and a 32-bit mcu in the toolbox then the msp430 is a nice choice IMO.

Or if you can't decide just get both the msp430 launchpad and the stm32f4 discovery. That's still under EUR 20. AND under $20 as well.

[McMonster]

I also recommend grabbing one of the STM32 Discovery boards. Cheap, open source tools available, so you can easily setup full programming environment using OpenOCD for debugging, Linaro as toolchain and Eclipse or Code::Blocks as IDE. It's not completely straightforward, but there are nice project examples for Eclipse on this page. There's also tutorial for setting things up, but outdated and not translated to English. You can always ask here, I've been through the process and can help.

Just one thing, do not attempt to use STM32's what's called Standard Peripheral Library. It just complicates things, makes you read twice more documentation (first to know the micro and then to see how this stupid library is supposed to work), it's slow and can break things.

[Bored@Work]

TI is now also making an ARM "Launchpad". Just like the original MSP430 they are almost giving it away.

[TheDirty]

There are some advantages, but MSP430 is really a step sideways from 8bit AVR's.   ARM CM3/CM0 is really a step up.