Programming the Atmel ATmega8L Microcontroller

Introduction 

In this article, I'll dive into hardware programming by working with a microcontroller (MCU). Having no prior experience with MCUs, this post will walk you through my learning process and project development.

Getting Started 

Based on a colleague's recommendation, I decided to use a USB-AVR programmer compatible with Atmel AVR microcontrollers. I ordered the USB-AVR programmer, an ATmega8L microcontroller, some resistors, LEDs, and a breadboard.

For development, I prefer using IDEs due to their features like syntax highlighting and integrated build tools, which save time and resources. I chose Eclipse for this project. Setting up Eclipse for AVR programming involves installing the following libraries:

  • gcc-avr: Compiler for Atmel AVR microcontrollers.
  • binutils-avr: Cross-compiling version of GNU binutils.
  • gdb-avr: GDB for debugging AVR binaries.
  • avr-libc: C library for GCC on Atmel AVR microcontrollers.
  • avrdude: Tool for transferring hex files onto the microcontroller.

Working with the MCU 

The ATmega8L is an 8-bit RISC microcontroller with 8KB of Flash program memory and numerous features like timers, ADC, and 3 PWM channels. It has 28 pins, 23 of which are usable as GPIO and are divided into 3 ports. Each port has 8 bits, though one port has only 7 bits. Configuring these ports allows you to use the pins for either input or output.

The program is compiled into a hexadecimal format and written to the microcontroller's flash memory.

Testing and First Project 

For my initial project, I used 20 red 5mm LEDs arranged in a 5x4 grid, with each LED connected to a separate pin on the microcontroller. I developed a mapping method for the LEDs and created basic effects, including a simple snake game with backtracking. 




              















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