Programming AVR micro-controllers

This document is intended to collect tips on programming AVR micro-controllers, such as Atmel's ATMEGA328P.

Uploading programs

There are many ways to upload programs onto chips.

Arduino as ISP

The Arduino community provides a simple way to use an existing Arduino to program a new AVR chip, at least to burn an Arduino bootloader onto it. An AVR on a breadboard, optionally with a crystal oscillator, is connected by four wires to an Arduino, which takes the program from the computer and programs it onto the AVR.

http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/ArduinoISP