Development environment and tools

Now I'm going to do a review of the development environment and the tools that I'm using to the development.

The operating system I'm using is Windows but there are also tools that work with Linux. First of all is to choose the C compiler. I'm using AVR-GCC (WinAvr) that is a free compiler and it's very easy to use. You can go the web http://winavr.sourceforge.net/ where you can find the installation files and information about how to use it. I have installed the version 20090313 but you can download the newest one. In the web http://www.nongnu.org/avr-libc/user-manual/index.html there are information about the libraries and examples. To use it, only is needed to install the compiler.

Other important tool is AVR Studio 4. This is a free IDE from Atmel and it can be download from http://www.atmel.com/dyn/products/tools_card.asp?tool_id=2725 The version I'm using is 4.18

The AVR Studio projects can be linked with AVR GCC. When you create the project you have to select the AVR GCC. You only have to choose the main file and the microcontroller. The program creates the makefiles and to compile you have to select the project files and just push the build button.

The next tool that I'm using is AVR Dragon that is a low cost debugger. I purschased it in mouser and only cost 40€. Here is the link http://es.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Atmel/ATAVRDRAGON/?qs=bfm/OTQPtMSBdktIZaKRJg%3d%3d

This debugger has a JTAG connector and can be linked to AVR Studio. You just have to connect to the board and you can debug directly from AVR Studio. If you are familiar with debuggers is very easy to use.