What is the importance of the bootloader? What I want to do is purchase some RBBB kits, and program the atmega chips on my freeduino. From what I understand I need a special cable to program the RBBB directly, so I would like to avoid that.
Sorry for being vague. Let me know what I can clarify. Thanks.
AFAIK without the bootloader on the chip you wouldn't be able to program the ATMega from the Arduino IDE (correct me if it's wrong...).
There's a possibility to burn the bootloader without a special cable, but with an Arduino. I didn't look into the Freeduino specs, but if it's got all Arduino has, this schould be possible with a Freeduino as well:
http://www.geocities.jp/arduino_diecimila/bootloader/index_en.html
I didn't try that out myself, just found the link a while ago when thinking about burning bootloaders myself 
This is what I have:
http://www.wulfden.org/TheShoppe/freeduino/iduino.shtml
Burning the bootloader looks a lot more involved than I assumed it would be so maybe I'll avoid that, haha.
Am I correct to assume the bootloader is needed to load any pde files to the chip?
Am I correct to assume the bootloader is needed to load any pde files to the chip?
The PDE file is not directly loaded onto the AVR chip in the Arduino. It is first compiled ("verified" in the IDE) into a binary form and then it is the binary form that is sent, via the bootloader, to the chip. The bootloader is needed to allow binary files to be sent to the AVR chip using the serial port (and FTDI USB chip). Without the bootloader, you'd have to get the binary onto the chip using an AVR In-System Programmer, which is an additional hardware device. There's a six-pin connector for an ISP on the Arduino's PCB, but it's only used when the bootloader is not available.
I'm also having bootloader issues and I figured I'd post here instead of starting a new thread. I have an AVR-PG2, and I'm pretty sure I have it hooked up correctly via the schematic here: SparkFun Electronics
I run the Arduino IDE and go Tools-->Burn Bootloader-->w/ Parallel Programmer and I get
"avrdude: can't open device "giveio"
avrdude: failed to open parallel port "lpt1""
I'm pretty new to all this and I get the feeling I'm missing something important. Thanks.
Can you say what computer/OS you are using?
What would be the best way to program some RBBB kits then? These say they come with the bootloader, but how do they link to the computer? Would it be possible to put the chip in my current board to program, then move to the RBBB kit?
Can you say what computer/OS you are using?
Sorry, I always forget that. I'm running Windows XP on an IBM Thinkpad.
They have rx and tx pins. So you can use the hardware UART. Connect these pins (and VCC and gnd) to a TTL to RS232 converter if you have a serial port on the computer or use a FTDI (serial to usb) breakout board. Then you can use the Arduino IDE to upload the sketches to the RBBB. On the page you linked they sell 2 Assembled RBBB's and one FTDI cable for $60.00, for example. Also see: http://moderndevice.com/connect.shtml
You can also program the chips on your current board and then move them to the RBBB. But reprogramming sound like fun in this scenario 
I have used the above method of modding the arduino board and I can say it does work fine.
