avr_helpers

This package provides helper classes for interacting with the AVR tool-chain. It includes a copy of avrdude for Windows, and Linux (32-bit and 64-bit), along with the avrdude.conf file from the Arduino 1.0.5 IDE. This allows stand-alone flashing of compile .hex firmware files.

avrdude API

The avr_helpers.AvrDude class implements an API for:

• Scanning available serial ports for a connected device.
• Flashing a .hex bit-stream file to an AVR device.

AvrDude API Usage

>>> from avr_helpers import AvrDude
>>> AvrDude?
Type:            type
String form:     <class ‘avr_helpers.AvrDude’>
File:            ...
Init definition: AvrDude(self, protocol, microcontroller, baud_rate, conf_path=None, port=None)
Docstring:       ...
>>> avr_dude = AvrDude(‘arduino’, ‘atmega168’, ‘19200’)
>>> # `-D` disables erase cycle to speed up programming.
>>> stdout, stderr = avr_dude.flash(‘blink.hex’, [‘-D’])
>>> print stdout

>>> print stderr

avrdude-x64: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions

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

avrdude-x64: Device signature = 0x1e9406
avrdude-x64: reading input file “blink.hex”
avrdude-x64: writing flash (1056 bytes):

Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.76s

avrdude-x64: 1056 bytes of flash written
avrdude-x64: verifying flash memory against blink.hex:
avrdude-x64: load data flash data from input file blink.hex:
avrdude-x64: input file blink.hex contains 1056 bytes
avrdude-x64: reading on-chip flash data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.68s

avrdude-x64: verifying ...
avrdude-x64: 1056 bytes of flash verified

avrdude-x64 done.  Thank you.

Note that since the avrdude.conf file from the Arduino IDE is included in the avr_helpers package, the arduino protocol may be used, allowing easy flashing of pre-compiled .hex files to Arduino devices.