ATTiny85 + micronucleus using an AVR programmer

ATTiny + Micronucleus

This gist is a list of instructions that I used to program my ATTiny85s with Micronucleus. They worked for me, but your mileage may vary! I would highly recommend starting by looking at the SparkFun article linked at the bottom for schematics and more in-depth info. This gist is mostly just a copy/paste list.

## Required:
- ATTiny85
- AVR programmer
- 1 uF capacitor
- Micronucleus FW: https://github.com/micronucleus/micronucleus/releases
- avrdude: http://www.nongnu.org/avrdude/

## Setup:
- Attach the avr programmer to the tiny
- Attach cap from GND to RESET (Otherwise try GND <-> V+. I only needed this the 2nd time)
- Plug in AVR programmer
- Download FW and unzip
- Make sure you have avrdude

## Burning:
- `cd micronucleus-master/firmware/releases`
- Burn firmware: `avrdude -P usb -c usbasp -p t85 -U flash:w:t85_default.hex`
- Burn fuses: `avrdude -P usb -c usbasp -p t85 -U lfuse:w:0xe2:m -U hfuse:w:0xdd:m -U efuse:w:0xfe:m`
  - NOTE: user @german-namestnikov found that the above did not work and instead changed the value of the `CKSEL` bit. Instead they used `avrdude -P usb -c usbasp -p t85 -U lfuse:w:0xe1:m -U hfuse:w:0xdd:m -U efuse:w:0xfe:m`
- Verify fuses (should read E:FE, H:DD, L:E2): `avrdude -P usb -c usbasp -p t85 -U lfuse:r:-:i`
- Test it works by unplugging from avr, use usb connection
- Go to commandline tool folder: `cd ../../commandline`
- Build + test: `make && micronucleus -?`

## Using with Arduino:
- Add additional board: http://digistump.com/package_digistump_index.json
- Install "Digistump AVR Boards"
- Select board "Digispark Default" and programmer "Micronucleus"

If things don't work it is most likely that the arduino board package does not have the latest micronucleus tool.
To fix, run `cp micronucleus-master/commandline/micronucleus ~/.arduino15/packages/digistump/tools/micronucleus/2.0a4`

Restart Arduino


Cheers!


## Sources:
- https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/how-to-install-an-attiny-bootloader-with-virtual-usb/install-micronucleus
- http://digistump.com/wiki/digispark/tutorials/connecting#software

Hi Andrew!
Thanks for such a great gist, it saved a lot of time for me.

During my work, I had no success with fuses -U lfuse:w:0xe2:m -U hfuse:w:0xdd:m -U efuse:w:0xfe:m for ATTiny85-20PU, the device couldn't be detected by OS and for every USB plug in I saw "usb 1-1.2: device descriptor read/64, error -32" error message in my dmesg log.

After some play with fuse bits I realized that the next setting works fine for my case: -U lfuse:w:0xe1:m -U hfuse:w:0xdd:m -U efuse:w:0xfe:m.

It is very strange. As I see, the only change I did is about CKSEL bits, determining whose clock frequency to use in MCU. Could you please explain the fuses selection for your case?

Glad to hear that it helped! The fuses that I used were completely based off of the sparkfun article linked at the bottom. For me, those seemed to work well but I will update to mention your success in the gist. I really have not delved deeply enough into how these fuses work.

Thanks!

Hi, thanks for this help. I have a weird issue, after upload process the board doesn't works. It's dont recognized like other boards like digispark for example.

I think that I have a right output:

(master) avp:releasesȹ avrdude -P /dev/ttyUSB0 -c buspirate -p t85 -U flash:w:t85_default.hex

Attempting to initiate BusPirate binary mode...
avrdude: Paged flash write enabled.
avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.09s

avrdude: Device signature = 0x1e930b (probably t85)
avrdude: NOTE: "flash" memory has been specified, an erase cycle will be performed
         To disable this feature, specify the -D option.
avrdude: erasing chip
avrdude: reading input file "t85_default.hex"
avrdude: input file t85_default.hex auto detected as Intel Hex
avrdude: writing flash (8170 bytes):

Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.00s

avrdude: 8170 bytes of flash written
avrdude: verifying flash memory against t85_default.hex:
avrdude: load data flash data from input file t85_default.hex:
avrdude: input file t85_default.hex auto detected as Intel Hex
avrdude: input file t85_default.hex contains 8170 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip flash data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.00s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 8170 bytes of flash verified

avrdude: safemode: Fuses OK (E:FE, H:DD, L:E2)

avrdude done.  Thank you.

But when I disconnect the board from my Bus Pirate and put it for upload my firmware, is not recognized.

I have the next dmesg error:

Sep  4 14:31:34 minisf kernel: [63716.543286] usb 1-2.1.4-port1: attempt power cycle
Sep  4 14:31:34 minisf kernel: [63717.253148] usb 1-2.1.4.1: new low-speed USB device number 25 using xhci_hcd
Sep  4 14:31:34 minisf kernel: [63717.280869] usb 1-2.1.4.1: Device not responding to setup address.
Sep  4 14:31:35 minisf kernel: [63717.520815] usb 1-2.1.4.1: Device not responding to setup address.
Sep  4 14:31:35 minisf kernel: [63717.733167] usb 1-2.1.4.1: device not accepting address 25, error -71
Sep  4 14:31:35 minisf kernel: [63717.929175] usb 1-2.1.4.1: new low-speed USB device number 26 using xhci_hcd
Sep  4 14:31:35 minisf kernel: [63717.956806] usb 1-2.1.4.1: Device not responding to setup address.
Sep  4 14:31:35 minisf kernel: [63718.196790] usb 1-2.1.4.1: Device not responding to setup address.
Sep  4 14:31:35 minisf kernel: [63718.409224] usb 1-2.1.4.1: device not accepting address 26, error -71

It is my setup for upload it:

I found the issue, we need put extra options to burning step:

avrdude -P /dev/ttyUSB0 -c buspirate -p attiny85 -U flash:w:t85_default.hex -U lfuse:w:0xe1:m -U hfuse:w:0xdd:m -U efuse:w:0xfe:m

I don't why, but with this line, with fuse burning in the same instruction, it works 👯

Oh god just thank you

my board cost me 2 bucks and no hassle to get a new one locally, I am just frustrated with tons of useless guides and youtube videos I watched before I got here.
Worked nicely for digispark board, no additional cap used