Embedded Prototyping

For a quick prototype using existing Arduino libraries, Teensy makes an exceptional line of Atmel, ARM M0+ and ARM M4 development boards.

For more advanced development use Visual Micro as a plug-in to Visual Studio. Of course, there is the standard Arduino line of devboards, but Teensy’s are more capable and better supported.

PIC’s are always easy to do a fast prototype as well with the CCS compiler and an ICD3 . The 8 bit and 16 bit PIC’s are fairly simple devices with manageable datasheets. They perform well at high temperatures.

MSP430’s are very easy to program bare metal. The Eclipse-based toolchain with the Grace plugin makes low level driver development simple.

ARM controllers, on their own, are the most difficult to start with. The vendors have tools to ease configuration (NXP Processor Expert, ATMEL START, STM32CubeMX) . GCC works fine for quick development, but the Keil and IAR compilers produce smaller, faster binaries. Check each manufacturer for their default cheap (free) toolchain. We have experience with NXP Kinetis, Microchip ATMEL SAM and STM. Each vendor has their cheap devboard offering.