AVR Coding Class and Kit

As a way to teach others the basics of AVR programming, Bradán Lane has created an open source AVR Coding 101 course. As with most such programming endeavors, the course requires a bit of upfront software installation, including VSCode, PlatformIO, and pymcuprog, which build upon each other to form your AVR programming environment.

Hardware-wise, however, you can simply source what you need from him as the ACK1, or AVR Coding Kit. These devices are available on Tindie for $20, plus shipping, handling, and import duties as appropriate.

The ACK1 comes in the form of a populated PCB, and includes a Microchip ATtiny1616 onboard, plus 42 charlieplexed LCDs, a piezo buzzer for sound output, and GPIO breakout pins for whatever else you can imagine. The device also features a CR2032 battery holder, along with an on-off switch, making it a rather elegant experimentation board – even if you already know AVR programming.

In addition to the main microcontroller board, the ACK1 is supplied with a CH340 USB-to-UART adapter, which can also be used as a UPDI programmer. With these two elements in hand, as well as a computer and USB-C cable, you have everything necessary to get started!

The course looks like an excellent educational opportunity, and with the kit you really don’t have to worry about scrounging up materials. If learning AVR programming is on your list of goals for 2023, this may be exactly what you need to get going!