The MSP430 Launchpad from TI is an inexpensive development board that comes with two processors, a 32K crystal, two headers sockets, a usb lead and two stickers.

USB

VCC                     GND 
P1.0 (LED1)             XIN
P1.1 (UART)            XOUT
P1.2 (UART)            TEST
P1.3 (S2)          (S1) RST
P1.4                   P1.7
P1.5            (LED2) P1.6
P2.0                   P2.5
P2.1                   P2.4
P2.2                   P2.3

P1.3  P1.0     RESET    GND
S2    P1.6     S1       GND
                        VCC

First install the required development tools.

apt-get install binutils-msp430 gcc-msp430 msp430-libc mspdebug msp430mcu

TODO

mspdebug rf2500
MSPDebug version 0.22 - debugging tool for MSP430 MCUs
Copyright (C) 2009-2013 Daniel Beer <dlbeer@gmail.com>
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 036
Initializing FET...
FET protocol version is 30394216
Set Vcc: 3000 mV
Configured for Spy-Bi-Wire
Device ID: 0x2553
  Code start address: 0xc000
  Code size         : 16384 byte = 16 kb
  RAM  start address: 0x200
  RAM  end   address: 0x3ff
  RAM  size         : 512 byte = 0 kb
Device: MSP430G2553/G2403
Number of breakpoints: 2
fet: FET returned NAK
warning: device does not support power profiling
Chip ID data: 25 53

Available commands:
    =           erase       isearch     power       save_raw    simio       
    alias       exit        load        prog        set         step        
    break       fill        load_raw    read        setbreak    sym         
    cgraph      gdb         md          regs        setwatch    verify      
    delbreak    help        mw          reset       setwatch_r  verify_raw  
    dis         hexout      opt         run         setwatch_w  

Available options:
    color                       gdb_loop                    
    enable_bsl_access           gdbc_xfer_size              
    enable_locked_flash_access  iradix                      
    fet_block_size              quiet                       
    gdb_default_port            

Type "help <topic>" for more information.
Use the "opt" command ("help opt") to set options.
Press Ctrl+D to quit.

(mspdebug)

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