Can I use the TL866A Mini Pro with Atmel Studio?

[wblackledg]

I'm really new to micro-controller programming.

I'm in the market to buy a micro controller programmer.  I've watched the various videos PIC vs. Atmel, etc.

I saw Dave's video on the Mini Pro and I thought this might work for me in that it seems to support a lot of different vendors chips.

One question I have is I'm wondering if I write a C programming in Atmel Studio, can I easily flash a supported Atmel chip using the TL866A or am I missing some other piece of hardware?

thanks.

[ataradov]

Atmel Studio will only support Atmel tools. And this programmer is mostly useful for EEPROM, Flash and other memory device, but not microcontrollers.

And Atmel-ICE is less expensive than this programmer and is guaranteed to be supported by AS.

[wblackledg]

Atmel Studio will only support Atmel tools. And this programmer is mostly useful for EEPROM, Flash and other memory device, but not microcontrollers.

And Atmel-ICE is less expensive than this programmer and is guaranteed to be supported by AS.

Alex, thanks.

So what can I use to plug the chip into when programming it?  I guess its my lack of knowledge/understanding that is keeping me from visualizing the entire process. 

So the Atmel-ICE plugs into the computer via USB.   I  compile the C program and upload it into the micro controller, but it seems another piece of hardware is needed where the chip is temporarily plugged into in order to be flashed, correct?

thanks.

[ataradov]

All MCUs today are programmed in circuit. You just have a programming connector on the board, you plug in Atmel-ICE (or equivalent from any other vendor) and program it without removing the chip from the board. It is actually impossible to remove most of modern chips, since they come in TQFP or QFN packages.

[wblackledg]

All MCUs today are programmed in circuit. You just have a programming connector on the board, you plug in Atmel-ICE (or equivalent from any other vendor) and program it without removing the chip from the board. It is actually impossible to remove most of modern chips, since they come in TQFP or QFN packages.

What about for a very small set of prototype boards and programming each chip individually?

[ataradov]

But why program the chip outside of the board, when you can solder it as is and program it when it is already on the board? Those programming connectors can be as small as 3 pins. and programming is fast, so you can implement the programming connector as a set of test points and create a pogo-pin jig for fast programming. That's how everyone is doing that.

Companies like DigiKey and Mouser offer a mass-programming service, but they usually will want you to buy 1k-10k units at least.

[Zbig]

I'd just add what ataradov said is especially valid for prototyping. Developing microcontroller code (like any programming) is an iterative process. You add some code, you compile it, upload it and test it. You fix it and when it finally works, you add some more. Rinse and repeat, ad nauseam. When testing, you want your microcontroller in its target circuit, not floating in the vacuum. Ok, there is a software emulator in Atmel Studio, which is cool, but I can't picture how one could develop anything but the simplest of programs relying on this only, without the possibility to check the physical uC's behavior in the real circuit. Additionally, with Atmel-ICE you get a debugger functionality which you can use to break/resume the program flow at specific points (even conditionally), peek at the variables and registers and many other cool things. Even in the past, you wouldn't usually just move the micro between the programmer and the device under development back and forth with each added line of code. There were emulators (hence why modern debuggers are still sometimes being called that) which plugged into the microcontroller socket and emulated the microcontroller's behavior in circuit with the aid of a PC software. Now, it's the hardware debugger which, utilizing dedicated debugging circuitry found in modern MCUs, takes control of the real physical MCU's program flow.

[albaben]

friend! and I have a question with regard tl866a. I am trying for hours to program ATMEGA 32L. tl lines 866a from dropping as I should but issued ID error. I explain feet from TL to ATMEGA 32L.
TL866A - ATMEGA32L
1 reset - 4 ATMEGA
2 VCC - 5 ATMEGA
3 VDD - 6 ATMEGA
4 Mosi - 1 ATMEGA
5 miso - 2 ATMEGA
SCK 6 - 3 ATMEGA
I can not read or program of this circuit. I tried to set miso and Mosi by TL866A to TXD and RXD in ATMEGA. still nothing, no result. ATMEGA district is regular. I tell you that I tried with a ATMEGA 64L and each was ok. It reads, delete, and schedules very well. BUT with the only difference, not using MOSI AND MISO NE ATMEGA64L but uses RXD AND TXD. <Thing that this've also tried to no avail to atmega32L >. I do not understand why you are facing this problem only with ATMEGA 32L. XTRIAL have to two ATMEGA I mentioned, the plate of the device to operate. Thank you in advance and I apologize for my English.