working with the firmware

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Totoro
 
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Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 4:05 pm

working with the firmware

Post by Totoro »

Hi,
This was great fun to build and it works great. I read about the firmware and would really like to try experimenting. I am new to this but want to try. What all do I need to do this? There seems to be various microcontroller deveopment environments. But what is required, hardware and software, to hack into the clock? I have a Mac.
Thank you for the great kit (I have already ordered two more!) and for help in learning how to experiment with it.
- Totoro

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eggplantǃ
 
Posts: 23
Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2009 7:55 pm

Re: working with the firmware

Post by eggplantǃ »

I used a USBTinyISP from Adafruit:

http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_ ... ucts_id=46
(be sure to use jumpers in R4 and R7 as outlined in the build doc)

For software, just download avrdude from the USBTiny page. Works like a charm! The only problem I had was that the green light doesn't light immediately on my MacBook Pro. Everything works fine, I just don't get a power light until I try to use the programmer at least once.

This will let you install any of the prebuilt firmware posted here in the forums.

If you want to build your own firmware, I'm not sure what you'll need under OSX. I used a Debian machine to compile things because I already had one, and it was easier to get the gcc-avr tools installed as they are right there in the stable repository. You'll need:

make (if you don't have it already)
gcc-avr
avr-libc

Totoro
 
Posts: 10
Joined: Fri Aug 28, 2009 4:05 pm

Re: working with the firmware

Post by Totoro »

Thanks Eggplant!
That looks simple enough. A little searching and I found this: http://www.ladyada.net/learn/avr/setup-mac.html So, it looks like I can get everything right here! I have built many electronic gadgets over the years (mostly audio stuff) but have never worked with microcontrollers. I am looking forward to learning about them.

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len17
 
Posts: 394
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2009 7:20 pm

Re: working with the firmware

Post by len17 »

In case you missed it, the Adafruit blog just posted this link to a how-to for installing the AVR tools on OS X:
http://regs.posterous.com/getting-avr-t ... -x-snow-le
Apparently it's more complicated on Snow Leopard.

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