What is this

Avrtool is a serial programmer for AVR/Arduino using STK500v1 protocol. It works with standard Arduino bootloader as well as "Arduino as ISP" programmer.

So it is sort of "replacement" for AVRDUDE with (too) little features yet easier to use.

Notes:

• Input file format (Intel HEX or Binary) is auto-detected
• To save firmware pass --read option
• Default serial port is /dev/ttyUSB0 (COM3 on Windows)
• Default port speed is 115200 bps (except for --noreset, it is 19200 bps)
• If MCU does not respond try manual baud setting (e.g., 57600 bps for LGT8F series)
• Automatic chip reset asserts both DTR and RTS
• Avrtool waits for connection indefinitely; press Ctrl-C to exit
• For "Arduino as ISP" --noreset option is required
• While reading chip any empty byte sequence (i.e., 0xff) may be removed from output
• Passing --size option may significantly speed up read operation
• Bootloaders may fake some commands (STK_CHIP_ERASE is no-op, STK_READ_SIGN returns arbitrary value, etc.)
• Bootloader may overwrite itself and become non-functional; use --size option to set upper memory limit and prevent this
• Fuses are supported only if STK_UNIVERSAL command works
• AT89S chips are programmable by "Arduino as ISP"

Build

If using GCC then simply run make. Otherwise, you may need to setup different compile flags. The source code is believed to be C99 compliant.

Use

Usage: avrtool [OPTION]... [FILE]
STK500v1 serial programmer. Write HEX/BIN file to AVR/Arduino.

-p, --port=PORT    Select serial device
-b, --baud=BAUD    Transfer baud rate
-x, --erase        Always erase chip
-X, --noerase      Never erase chip
-a, --base=ADDR    Flash memory start address
-z, --size=NUM     Flash memory maximum size
-r, --read         Read memory to FILE
-n, --noreset      Do not assert DTR or RTS
    --lfuse=X      Set low fuse
    --hfuse=X      Set high fuse
    --efuse=X      Set extended fuse
    --lock=X       Set lock byte
-l, --list-ports   List available ports only
-h, --help         Show this message and exit