AVRgpp Is an Open Source Multi-Function Programmer for Your Microcontroller Projects

Arduino boards popular for a variety of reasons, but one of the most important factors is how easy they are to program. The boards have a built-in chip that makes it a snap to flash new code from your computer using a regular ol’ USB cable. If you’re used to that convenience, it can be a little bit overwhelming when you design your own custom PCBs that don’t have an onboard chip for flashing your microcontroller. You’ll need a separate programmer for that, and AVRgpp is an open source multi-function programmer that is perfect for the job.

AVRgpp (General Purpose Programmer) was developed by the team at Wordcraft, which is a company focused on various technology endeavors. They were working on a project with a Microchip ATtiny1614, and found that the programmers currently on the market were lacking the features they wanted. Specifically, they wanted to be able to program the microcontroller using the single-wire UPD that is supported by ATtiny chips. Microchip’s Atmel-ICE programmer does support UPDI, but it is also fairly expensive (starting at $100). AVRgpp was created to be an affordable DIY option with some great features.

The brain of the AVRgpp is an ATmega328P. Various settings can be selected using a pair of buttons and a small OLED screen. It’s intended to be used with the Arduino IDE and can act as either an ISP programmer, a UPDI programmer (with or without a 12V programming pulse), or as a USB-to-serial interface. You can use the open source files to have the PCB fabricated and build your own AVRgpp, or wait to see if Wordcraft decides to sell pre-built units. If they do, a fully-assembled AVRgpp board will likely cost around $50. Be sure to contact them if you are interested in purchasing an AVRgpp if they become available.