AVR Helper Extension

Helper extension to simplify code compilation and flashing for AVR chips. This extension allows building and flashing executable for AVR from C/C++ source files. It needs avr-gcc and avrdude installed. It uses C/C++ extension to provide language support.

Features

Demo: source highlighting and build.

The AVR Helper adds five items to the window status bar:

Status bar: AVR (command: Perform initial setup)

Displayed as AVR

This is the starting point to configure build system.

• C/C++ extension configuration file is created when this item is activated
• Step 1: choose avr-gcc executable file
• Step 2: choose avrdude executable file
• Step 3: choose avrdude.conf
• Step 4: choose additional source libraries

Status bar: Device (command: Select device)

Displayed as attiny85 | 1000000 Hz

This item displays and allows for selecting MCU type and frequency.

• Step 1: select MCU type according to the configured avrdude and avrdude.conf
• Step 2: input MCU frequency in Hz

Status bar: Programmer (command: Select programmer)

Displayed as stk500v1 | /dev/ttyACM0 | 19200 Baud

This item displays and allows for selecting programmer type, port, and baud rate.

• Step 1: select programmer type according to the configured avrdude and avrdude.conf
• Step 2: choose OS port to which the programmer is connected
• Step 3: input the port rate in baud

Status bar: Build (command: Build)

Displayed as Build

This item triggers make of a currently open folder or a folder of currently displayed file. There are three options:

• build: compile, link, disassemble, display ELF information
• clean: remove the build output
• scan: list all C/C++ files which will be used for build

The result of build is output.elf and output.lst files in .vscode/avr.build folder.

Status bar: Flash (command: Flash)

Displayed as Flash

This item triggers a connection to the device using the programmer to list all available memory areas of the currently connected device. The user can select memory areas to flash, these areas must be present in output.elf file sections for the operation to succeed. The build has to be run successfully and produce output.elf file before flashing.

Requirements

• avr-gcc (compilation)
• avrdude (programmer driver)
• C/C++ extension (language support)

Known Issues

Debug and simulation modes are not implemented.