How to use AVRDUDE in Atmel Studio / Microchip studio

In this article, you will learn how to download your program to your Arduino without using an external programmer.

A video version of this article is available on my Youtube channel at https://youtu.be/HB7oB3Bfg4k.

Arduino boards come with what is called a bootloader. This is a small program which remains in your microcontroller and which allows you to load the hex file via a communication port. The Arduino UNO uses the serial port which is connected to the USB port on the board.

The first step is to open Arduino IDE and load a simple example, then download it to the board. After loading, find in the list of commands that refer to Avrdude.

Then copy the entire line into a text editor.

Separate the command into two parts.

Part 1 (Command)

C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avrdude

You need to add .exe at the end of this command, which will give you this (or something similar):

C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avrdude.exe

Part 2 (Arguments)

-CC: \ Program Files (x86) \ Arduino \ hardware \ tools \ avr / etc / avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -carduino -PCOM47 -b115200 -D -Uflash: w: C: \ Users \ MARC ~ 1.JUN \ AppData \ Local \ Temp \ arduino_build_327788 / Blink.ino.hex: i

The first part of the arguments gives the path to the Avrdude configuration file. You must add "" to this part.

Then, we must modify the arguments of the port as follows:

-PCOM47 will become -P \\. \ COM47

Finally, you will have to replace the path of the hex file for that of your project. In AVR Studio, there are path constants that simplify this task. The "$ (ProjectDir) Debug \ $ (TargetName) .hex" argument will point to your project's hex unless you have changed this path manually.

The argument line should therefore look like this:

-C "C: \ Program Files (x86) \ Arduino \ hardware \ tools \ avr / etc / avrdude.conf" -v -patmega328p -carduino -P \\. \ COM47 -b115200 -D -Uflash: w: "$ (ProjectDir) Debug \ $ (TargetName) .hex ": i

Now open a new project in AVR Studio for the Atmega328p.

Now make a little program that flashes the Arduino LED. In the case of the UNO Rev3, PB5 controls the LED "L".

Now compile and verify that there are no errors.

We now need to add AVRDude as an external tool.

Copy the command line and the argument line and click Apply.

Return to the Tools menu and select AVRDUDE.

Note that you may have to change the port argument if it changes the next time you connect the USB cable.