rubpy/avr-scratch

avr-scratch 🤖

An example minimal compile/deploy setup (build system) for Atmel/Microchip ATmega (AVR) microcontrollers.
💡 With some extra tips & tricks.

Compiles plain C code (does not require Arduino IDE) using avr-gcc, and supports deploying to devices (with avrdude) lacking native USB support (e.g., boards that rely onbit-bang/V-USB & USBtinyISP).

Also, works on macOS! (even via a microUSB to USB-B + USB-B to USB-C adapter combo)

Why?

☝️ I have personally found Arduino IDE and the Arduino platform to be somewhat muddled, confusing, and a rather superfluous layer of abstraction. Getting the IDE to work properly, especially on a Linux/macOS machine, can be far from straightforward; hence, this setup tells you how to avoid the use of the Arduino platform completely, when dealing with common development boards.

This repository serves as an entry point (or, really an example of how avr-gcc & avrdude can be used) for beginner microcontroller programmers, especially those with a C/C++ background, to the AVR ecosystem.

As these simple shell scripts are by no means exhaustive, it is highly recommended to create a custom build system (e.g., using Makefile, CMake, Bash, etc.) for your own project.

Requirements

avr-gcc
avrdude

How to install

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):

$ sudo apt-get install gcc-avr avr-libc avrdude

For more information, see: avr-gcc on gcc.gnu.org, avr-libc on nongnu.org, and avrdudes/avrdude on GitHub.

macOS (Homebrew required):

$ xcode-select --install
$ brew tap osx-cross/avr
$ brew install avr-gcc avrdude

For more information, see: osx-cross/homebrew-avr on GitHub.

Build

$ chmod +x compile.sh upload.sh

To compile a program (e.g., src/blink.c for ATmega328p running @ 16 MHz clock frequency):

$ ./compile.sh -m atmega328p -i blink -f 16000000

To deploy the output binary (e.g., build/blink.ihex) to a microcontroller (e.g., an ATmega328p connected via USBtinyISP/V-USB):

$ ./upload.sh -p m328p -c usbtiny -i blink
avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions

[...]

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 182 bytes of flash verified
avrdude: safemode: Fuses OK (E:FD, H:D0, L:FF)

avrdude done.  Thank you.

Tips

A list of MMCU's (AVR instruction set architectures, or microcontroller types) supported by avr-gcc (or the compile.sh script) can be found here: AVR Options (Using the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC)).
Likewise, a list of all microcontroller types supported by avrdude (or the upload.sh script) can be revealed (alternatively, check out the AVRDUDE user manual):

$ avrdude -p "?"

Valid parts are:
  uc3a0512 = AT32UC3A0512
  c128     = AT90CAN128
  c32      = AT90CAN32
  c64      = AT90CAN64
  pwm2     = AT90PWM2
  pwm216   = AT90PWM216
  pwm2b    = AT90PWM2B
  pwm3     = AT90PWM3
  pwm316   = AT90PWM316
  pwm3b    = AT90PWM3B
  1200     = AT90S1200
  2313     = AT90S2313
  2333     = AT90S2333
  2343     = AT90S2343

  [... (144 more)]

All programmer types supported by avrdude can be listed as well (alternatively, check out the AVRDUDE user manual):

$ avrdude -c "?"

Valid programmers are:
  2232HIO          = FT2232H based generic programmer
  4232h            = FT4232H based generic programmer
  arduino          = Arduino
  arduino-ft232r   = Arduino: FT232R connected to ISP
  atmelice         = Atmel-ICE (ARM/AVR) in JTAG mode
  atmelice_dw      = Atmel-ICE (ARM/AVR) in debugWIRE mode
  atmelice_isp     = Atmel-ICE (ARM/AVR) in ISP mode
  atmelice_pdi     = Atmel-ICE (ARM/AVR) in PDI mode
  avr109           = Atmel AppNote AVR109 Boot Loader
  avr910           = Atmel Low Cost Serial Programmer
  avr911           = Atmel AppNote AVR911 AVROSP
  avrftdi          = FT2232D based generic programmer
  avrisp           = Atmel AVR ISP
  avrisp2          = Atmel AVR ISP mkII

  [... (68 more)]

Listing paths to AVR headers/libraries can sometimes be helpful:

$ avr-gcc -print-search-dirs
install: /usr/local/Cellar/avr-gcc@9/9.3.0_3/lib/avr-gcc/9/gcc/avr/9.3.0/
programs: =/usr/local/Cellar/avr-gcc@9/9.3.0_3/libexec/gcc/avr/9.3.0/:[...]
libraries: =/usr/local/Cellar/avr-gcc@9/9.3.0_3/lib/avr-gcc/9/gcc/avr/9.3.0/:[...]

Other useful resources:
- amirbawab/AVR-cheat-sheet — a quick reference for AVR internals, with some examples
- fffaraz/awesome-avr — a curated list of awesome AVR tools, libraries, resources...
- (PDF) avr-libc user manual — standard AVR library documentation
- (PDF) AVR instruction set manual — an overview and explanation of every instruction available for 8-bit AVR devices, from Microchip
- (PDF) ATmega328P datasheet — an absolute must-have, full of low-level details, code examples, memory structure & I/O description, CPU design overview, full instruction set, etc. (note: table of contents is at the bottom)
- Wokwi - online Arduino and ESP32 simulator — test your AVR coding abilities in a virtual environment!
  
  Note: *.ino files are really just *.cpp.
  Arduino IDE defines its own main function, which calls the user-defined setup once, and then invokes loop in an infinite loop.
  Even in the simulator, you can include standard AVR header files at the top of a sketch.ino, for example:
  #include <avr/io.h>.

rubpy / avr-scratch