Windows Toolchain

The avr-gcc software for use on a Windows system can be obtained from the instructor or downloaded from a couple of web sites. It has been run on Windows 10 systems and probably runs on other versions.

Important: The information below assumes you are at least moderately familiar with using the Windows Command Prompt program and its command line interface, and with basic Unix-type commands for moving around the file system and doing simple operations. If you are not familiar with using the command line interface we suggest you take a look at this web page for a short tutorial on the subject.

Step 1: Install the WinAVR Software

The avr-gcc software can be downloaded from http://sourceforge.net/projects/winavr/. Download the file "WinAVR-20100110-install.exe" or a more recent one.

Warning: There have been several reports that the installation of the WinAVR software can corrupt the setting of the Windows PATH variable in the process of modifying it to handle the avr-gcc. This may result in other packages that you previously installed no longer running and require reinstallation of those packages.

Double click on it on the installer file to start the installation. Follow the instructions and use the default settings and locations.

Step 2: Install the Arduino IDE

Download the Arduino IDE software from http://arduino.cc/en/main/software. We won't be using this to program the Arduinos, but it is handy to have installed for checking on which I/O port the Arduino is connected to.

Install the package using the default options. At some point it may ask you to install the USB driver. Choose "Install". When done, you can click "Complete".

Step 3: Check the PATH Variable

Open a Command Prompt window (Windows button ... search for "Command Prompt") and type the command "path" to show the search path used for finding executable programs. It should contain the directories "C:\WinAVR-20100110\bin" and "C:\WinAVR-20100110\utils\bin".

Step 4: Test Installation

Check that the software that downloads the programs to the Arduino has been installed by typing the command "avrdude -?". If the program is working it should print out a bunch of stuff and at the end give the version number of the program. Probably something like "avrdude version 5.10". You should now be ready to run the avr-gcc development software to program a microcontroller.