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How to program an Attiny85 or Attiny84

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Prerequisite

  • Arduino IDE 1.8.4 or higher is installed - Download
  • You have a programmer board - NanoProg.

Tiny Core Library

We recommend the tiny core library from this link below.

https://github.com/SpenceKonde/ATTinyCore

Download it and install it in the sketchbook/hardware folder. Follow instructions in the README file for this.

Connect the hardware

For Attiny85 DIP8

Insert the Attiny85 MCU on the DIP8 socket of the Nanoprog. Beware of the direction when the inserting the MCU. The small dot must be pointed toward the inside of the board.

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For Circuit with ISP port

  • Connect the NanoProg to the USB port of the computer.
  • Connect the 6 pin ribbon cable to the ISP port of the board to program. Make sure grounds are connected together.

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Initial Setup

Make sure Arduino as ISP is selected in Tools | Programmer menu. 150px

Bootloader

If programming the MCU for the first time you must burn the bootloader onto it. For this first select the appropriate board in the Arduino IDE. Tools | Board | ATtiny24/44/84. Then select Tools | Burn Bootloarder.

Upload Sketch

Attiny85 Attiny84

  • Open your sketch file with the Arduino IDE.
  • In Tools | Board select ATTinyCore | ATtiny 24/44/84(a) (no bootloader)
  • Upload the sketch from the IDE.

Atmega

  • Open your sketch file with the Arduino IDE.
  • Make sure you select the appropriate MCU type in Tools | Board. Usually Arduino UNO.
  • To upload select File | Upload Using Programmer.

Do not use Upload as it will reflash the programmer itself. (reflash again using Arduino as ISP sketch is it happens)