Electronic – Msp430 Launchpad Soldering

I wouldn't solder a motor directly to the output pins of a Launchpad. You won't be able to source enough current for the stepper -- at least not any hobbyist stepper I've used before. You can use it with a breadboard, but you won't be able to use the male header because the pins rows are spaced too far apart on the Launchpad to be used with a normal breadboard, unless you use two separate breadboards, one for each side of the Launchpad.

In my project, I'm using the female header option with jumper wires to hook up the Launchpad to peripherals. So far it seems to work just fine.

The ULN2003A should work fine for now if you don't exceed its current rating, so check the datasheet. I vaguely recall that it has provisions for external flyback diodes as well, and I feel you'll want to add those if possible.

http://github.com/dwelch67/msp430_samples I use mspdebug to load programs.

I dont know if there is a communcation path between the target mcu and the host. the mcu in the middle is the one you talk to and it uses spi by wire to load the target device.

I either bitbang or use the uart in the g2553 part to communicate with the host using a separate ftdi based usb to serial board (the kind used with 3.3v arduinos are super easy to come by, can also power the msp430 with this if you dont need to reprogram it.