This is meant to be a compendium of programming guides for a series of useful Atmel chips.

Diagram of the Arduino Uno, which will be used to program each of these chips:

ATmega328P

Diagram: ATmega328P pinout

One time: burning the bootloader

  1. Connect an unwired Arduino to the computer.
  2. Set Tools/Board to “Arduino/Genuino Uno” and upload the example ArduinoISP sketch.
  3. In Documents/Arduino, create a new folder called “hardware”.

  4. Download breadboard-1.6.zip and unzip it in the hardware folder. The final directory tree should look like this:

    Arduino IDE hardware folder structure

  5. Restart the Arduino IDE.

  6. Wire the devices as shown.

    ATmega328P on a breadboard bootloader configuration

  7. Connect a 10 µF capacitor from reset to ground on the Arduino.
  8. Set Tools/Board to “ATmega328 on a breadboard (8MHz internal)”.
  9. Set Tools/Programmer to “Arduino as ISP”
  10. Click Tools/Burn Bootloader.
  11. Post the error it gives you in the comments below. (hopefully none)

Every time: uploading sketches

  1. Set Tools/Board to “ATmega328 on a breadboard (8MHz internal)”.
  2. Set Tools/Programmer to “Arduino/Genuino Uno”

  3. Wire the device like shown.

    ATmega328P on a breadboard programming configuration

  4. Press the upload button.

ATmega328 (without the P)

Seriously consider buying a regular ATmega328P unless this is all they have at your local electronics store.

One time: burning the bootloader

Follow the same instructions as for ATmega328P, but after step 3 edit “boards.txt” within Arduino/hardware/breadboard/avr. Find the line that reads “atmega328bb.build.mcu=atmega328p” and change atmega328p to atmega328. After step 9, revert this change (the bootloader causes the chip to respond in the same way as a ATmega328P).

Every time: uploading sketches

Same instructions as for ATmega328P

ATtiny84 (14-pin DIP)

No bootloader is required.

Diagram: ATtiny84/85 pinout

Uploading sketches:

  1. Connect an unwired Arduino to the computer.
  2. Set Tools/Board to “Arduino/Genuino Uno” and upload the example ArduinoISP sketch.
  3. Open Arduino’s preferences. In Additional Boards Manager URLs, insert https://raw.githubusercontent.com/damellis/attiny/ide-1.6.x-boards-manager/package_damellis_attiny_index.json and press OK.
  4. Go to Tools/Boards/Boards Manager. Search for attiny. Click the first result and press Install.
  5. Restart the Arduino IDE.

  6. Wire the board as follows.

    ATtiny84 on a breadboard programming configuration

  7. Set Tools/Board to ATtiny24/44/84
  8. Set Tools/Processer to ATtiny84
  9. Set Tools/Clock to 1MHz
  10. Set Tools/Programmer to Arduino as ISP.
  11. Click Sketch/Upload using Programmer.

ATtiny85 (8-pin DIP)

No bootloader is required.

Uploading sketches:

Follow the instructions for the ATtiny84. For step 6, wire the board as follows:

ATtiny85 on a breadboard programming configuration

For step 7, select ATtiny25/45/85. For step 8, select ATtiny85.

Sources:

  • https://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/ArduinoToBreadboard
  • http://42bots.com/tutorials/programming-attiny84-attiny44-with-arduino-uno/
  • http://42bots.com/tutorials/how-to-program-attiny85-with-arduino-uno-part-1/
  • http://www.pighixxx.com/