Practical help uploading programs to ATTiny88 board

Development Tools Uploading
1

I have an old PC (Win XP) in my shed workshop that has no internet access. (I use it for my digital 'scope, and referring to circuit data etc.) When necessary I transfer files from my main PC (Win 10) in the house via USB stick.

I now want to add the ATTinyCore boards as I hope I can use one of the set with my cheap 'Tiny' clone boards. I have installed these on the house PC (although not tested them):

ATTiny-Boards
ATTiny-Boards643×688 68.5 KB

TinyBoard
TinyBoard1536×2048 374 KB

But where can I locate the files that have been installed, to copy them via USB stick to the shed PC please?

I'm not a programmer, and floundering a bit here. So any additional advice anyone can offer on how to get my Tiny boards up and running would be much appreciated please. :slightly_smiling_face:

2

After installing the core on your main PC - try to compile any sketch with this board. After compiling you will see a usual Arduino message, where you can see a path to a new installed core.

2 Likes
3

Usually someplace like c:\users\username\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\

1 Like
4

Thanks. But as soon as I plug in the USB cable the red light on the Tiny flashes rapidly and repeatedly. And Tools > Port shows only COM 1, no other serial ports. Presumably the flashing is because of the absence of a serial port?

Same behaviour with another fresh Tiny.

Not a cable issue because same cable works fine on a UNO that has the same 'micro' socket.

Any ideas please? I recall these were pretty cheap, but ...

5

Thasnks, but as you see I can't even get that far.
:unamused:

6

A blink sketch had been loaded? (My tiny88 had a blink sketch loaded)

7

No, I seriously doubt if anthing could have been loaded as they came without pins as shown in the image I attached.. And how would I know now that I cannot communicate with them?

8

You don't need to connect the board to PC to compile the code. Once it compiled, you will get a Arduino message where your core is situated on harddrive.

9

It looks like a board with "VUSB" software emulation of USB, which means that it won't appear as a serial port, and uses a special upload procedure (usually "plug it in after the upload starts.") It may need drivers, libraries, and/or tools installed that are in addition to the stuff in ATtinyCore.

I see several tutorials on similar-looking boards on Youtube/etc...

10

I don't follow. How can it even get power without being connected?

11

Are you located the arduino core in your main PC?

12

Thank you. It occurred to me that I should add a bootloader anyway (from a UNO). despite the strange error flashing behaviour. That reported success. And when I inserted the micro USB cable it did not flash the red LED. But Tools > Port still shows no serial port except COM 1.

So your diagnosis looks correct. I will press on for a while but it looks increasingly like a lost cause.

14

Don't understand you, sorry!

Are you asking if I'm working on my Win 10 PC? If so, yes. This is what i did:

  1. Added the bootloader (see my reply to @westfw).
  2. Disconnected the six ISP wires
  3. Removed the USB plug from the UNO, so no power to either UNO or Tiny.
  4. Opened the Blink sketch and Verified it.
  5. Noted a message at the bottom, which I don't understand
    ATtiny48/88 (Optiboot), Enabled. ATtinyBB. 8 MHz (intemal), Standard. 8.0.0. Disabled (saves power). Enabled. PortA(pins 23~26) on COM5
  6. Plugged in the USB cable to the Tiny. No red light, but the following error window:
    LastDevice
15

You probably wanted (and maybe had) the Micronucleus bootloader board type, not the optiboot. Optiboot requires a USB/Serial converter chip, which I don't think your board has.

Since you have an ISP programmer, you could use the chip with no bootloader at all as well.

16

I'm still struggling here so thanks for your patience.

First, I tried the ""plug it in after the upload starts" work around, with values of 'after' from about 1 to 4 seconds, but no joy. On some/all attempts I got this:
An error occurred while uploading the sketch
C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\tools\micronucleus\2.5-azd1b/micronucleus --no-ansi --run --timeout 60 C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373/Blink.ino.hex

Please plug in the device (will time out in 60 seconds) ...
... and that was after plugging it in.

There were three other 'hits' listed when I filtered Boards Manager with 'tiny'.

Tiny-Boards-2
Tiny-Boards-2773×570 119 KB

ATTiny-Boards
ATTiny-Boards633×688 67.7 KB

This was the message at the bottom of the IDE window after loading the Blink sketch and choosing the board.
'37 ATtiny (Micronucleus, MH-ET t88 w/16MHz CLOCK), Enabled. 16 MHz (external 16MHz, USB). MH Tiny. B.0.D. Enabled (4.3V). Reset. Upgrade (via USB. fuses unchanged). Always. Enabled. PortA (pins 23—26)on COM5'

(I have not tried changing permutations of the 'parameters' offered there.)

"Since you have an ISP programmer, you could use the chip with no bootloader at all as well."
I assume you mean using a UNO as an ISP, which was how I described adding the bootloader? (I do also have a CH340 module which I don't think I've used for a year or so, if that's relevant?)

Should I at any stage be using one of these pogrammers, other than AVRISP mkll and Arduino as ISP? Those beginning with 'USBtiny...'? or 'Micronucleus'? If so, at what point in the obstacle course?
ATTiny-Programmers

I have watched several videos and read a dozen or so threads/articles but so far not come up with a fix. You mentioned several; was there one you found that looked particularly relevant?

BTW, note that my chip is marked 'Tiny'; no mention of 'MH' or '88'.

Other messages I've seen at other stages:

avrdude: usbdev_open(): did not find any USB device "usb" (0x03eb:0x2104)

java.io.IOException: Cannot run program "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\tools\micronucleus\2.5-azd1/launcher": CreateProcess error=2, The system cannot find the file specified

avrdude: ser_open(): can't open device "\.\COM5": The system cannot find the file specified.

Not sure if I tried the option 'ATtiny48/88 (No bootloader)' earlier, so maybe I'll solder up the six ISP pins on another of my Tiny chips and do so.

Finally, in case it offers any clues, here'sthe very lengthy report while verifying:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino-builder -dump-prefs -logger=machine -hardware C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware -hardware C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\tools-builder -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -tools C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -built-in-libraries C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries -libraries C:\Users\terry\Dropbox\Electronics\Arduino\SKETCHES\libraries -fqbn=ATTinyCore:avr:attinyx8micr:LTO=enable,sketchclock=16external,pinmapping=mhtiny,bod=4v3,resetpin=reset,burnmode=upgrade,bootentry=always,millis=enabled,neopixelport=porta -ide-version=10819 -build-path C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373 -warnings=all -build-cache C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_787810 -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.micronucleus.path=C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\tools\micronucleus\2.5-azd1b -prefs=runtime.tools.micronucleus-2.5-azd1b.path=C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\tools\micronucleus\2.5-azd1b -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc.path=C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7 -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc-7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7.path=C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7 -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude.path=C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino18 -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude-6.3.0-arduino18.path=C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino18 -verbose C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_modified_sketch_827129\Blink.ino
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino-builder -compile -logger=machine -hardware C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware -hardware C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\tools-builder -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -tools C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -built-in-libraries C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries -libraries C:\Users\terry\Dropbox\Electronics\Arduino\SKETCHES\libraries -fqbn=ATTinyCore:avr:attinyx8micr:LTO=enable,sketchclock=16external,pinmapping=mhtiny,bod=4v3,resetpin=reset,burnmode=upgrade,bootentry=always,millis=enabled,neopixelport=porta -ide-version=10819 -build-path C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373 -warnings=all -build-cache C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_787810 -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.micronucleus.path=C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\tools\micronucleus\2.5-azd1b -prefs=runtime.tools.micronucleus-2.5-azd1b.path=C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\tools\micronucleus\2.5-azd1b -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc.path=C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7 -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc-7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7.path=C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7 -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude.path=C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino18 -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude-6.3.0-arduino18.path=C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avrdude\6.3.0-arduino18 -verbose C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_modified_sketch_827129\Blink.ino
Using board 'attinyx8micr' from platform in folder: C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2
Using core 'tiny' from platform in folder: C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2
Detecting libraries used...
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -flto -w -x c++ -E -CC -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\sketch\Blink.ino.cpp" -o nul
Generating function prototypes...
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -flto -w -x c++ -E -CC -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\sketch\Blink.ino.cpp" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\preproc\ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\builtin\tools\ctags\5.8-arduino11/ctags" -u --language-force=c++ -f - --c++-kinds=svpf --fields=KSTtzns --line-directives "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\preproc\ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp"
Compiling sketch...
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -MMD -flto -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\sketch\Blink.ino.cpp" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\sketch\Blink.ino.cpp.o"
Compiling libraries...
Compiling core...
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc" -c -g -x assembler-with-cpp -flto -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\wiring_pulse.S" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\wiring_pulse.S.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu11 -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -MMD -flto -fno-fat-lto-objects -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\wiring_shift.c" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\wiring_shift.c.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu11 -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -MMD -flto -fno-fat-lto-objects -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\wiring_pulse.c" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\wiring_pulse.c.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu11 -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -MMD -flto -fno-fat-lto-objects -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\wiring_digital.c" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\wiring_digital.c.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu11 -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -MMD -flto -fno-fat-lto-objects -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\wiring_analog.c" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\wiring_analog.c.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu11 -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -MMD -flto -fno-fat-lto-objects -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\WInterrupts.c" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\WInterrupts.c.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu11 -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -MMD -flto -fno-fat-lto-objects -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\wiring.c" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\wiring.c.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -MMD -flto -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\Print.cpp" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\Print.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -MMD -flto -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\HardwareSerial.cpp" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\HardwareSerial.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -MMD -flto -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\WString.cpp" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\WString.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -MMD -flto -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\WMath.cpp" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\WMath.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -MMD -flto -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\Stream.cpp" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\Stream.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -MMD -flto -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\abi.cpp" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\abi.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -MMD -flto -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\Tone.cpp" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\Tone.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -MMD -flto -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\TinySoftwareSerial.cpp" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\TinySoftwareSerial.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -MMD -flto -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\main.cpp" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\main.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -MMD -flto -mmcu=attiny88 -DF_CPU=16000000L -DCLOCK_SOURCE=18 -DARDUINO=10819 -DARDUINO_AVR_ATTINYX8 -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR -DHASUSB -DNEOPIXELPORT=PORTA "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny" "-IC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\variants\tinyX8_MH" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\ATTinyCore\hardware\avr\1.5.2\cores\tiny\new.cpp" -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\new.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\wiring_pulse.S.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\WInterrupts.c.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\wiring.c.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\wiring_analog.c.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\wiring_digital.c.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\wiring_pulse.c.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\wiring_shift.c.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\HardwareSerial.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\Print.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\Stream.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\TinySoftwareSerial.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\Tone.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\WMath.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\WString.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\abi.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\main.cpp.o"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc-ar" rcs "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\core.a" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\core\new.cpp.o"
Archiving built core (caching) in: C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_787810\core\core_00667d8bfd04bee19716d5d1f2bf6e6c.a
Linking everything together...
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-gcc" -Wall -Wextra -Os -g -flto -fuse-linker-plugin -Wl,--gc-sections -mmcu=attiny88 -o "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373/Blink.ino.elf" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373\sketch\Blink.ino.cpp.o" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373/core\core.a" "-LC:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373" -lm
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-objcopy" -O ihex -j .eeprom --set-section-flags=.eeprom=alloc,load --no-change-warnings --change-section-lma .eeprom=0 "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373/Blink.ino.elf" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373/Blink.ino.eep"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-objcopy" -O ihex -R .eeprom "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373/Blink.ino.elf" "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373/Blink.ino.hex"
"C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages\arduino\tools\avr-gcc\7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7/bin/avr-size" -A "C:\Users\terry\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_71373/Blink.ino.elf"
Sketch uses 468 bytes (6%) of program storage space. Maximum is 6780 bytes.
Global variables use 9 bytes (1%) of dynamic memory, leaving 503 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 512 bytes.

18

Do a manual installation of the core to get the core onto the non-internet-connected machine

See ATTinyCore/Installation.md at v2.0.0-devThis-is-the-head-submit-PRs-against-this · SpenceKonde/ATTinyCore · GitHub

To upload over USB, you need to "burn bootloader" of ISP with the ATTiny88 (micronucleus) option if your board looks like the one shown in the ebay screenshot.

You must also download and install the micronucleus drivers themselves if you have not already done so. I forget how you get the IDE to recognize the path to the upload tool. I'd probably try uploading with verbose output enabled, see what the path to the upload tool it was trying to use was, and create it there.
https://azduino.com/bin/micronucleus/micronucleus-cli-2.5-azd1b-x86_64-mingw32.zip

Since you're stuck on an old version of the IDE because it's win XP this may not be entirely pleasant, they dropped support for XP, iirc, right around the time just after board manager arrived on the scene and there were a lot of really bad releases that threw various roadblocks in the way of third party ores The way the IDE finds the micronucleus upload tool is murky at the best of times. Those were not the best of times as I reckon.

19

Thanks, but did you read my various posts? Right now I am working exclusively on my Win 10 internet-enabled PC. Until I get the chips working on that there’s no point doing so on the old PC. And I described the various steps I’ve taken, including installing the ‘core’.

But, as I explained in detail, I can’t get the COM port recognised, whatever I do.

I’ll try again tomorrow, starting from the link you posted.

20

Oh okay that I hadn't caught. Manual install instructions still apply.

You must also download and install the micronucleus drivers themselves if you have not already done so. I forget how you get the IDE to recognize the path to the upload tool. I'd probably try uploading with verbose output enabled, see what the path to the upload tool it was trying to use was, and create it there.
https://azduino.com/bin/micronucleus/micronucleus-cli-2.5-azd1b-x86_64-mingw32.zip

still applies

But you will never get a COM port. You should not expect to. It is a Micronucleus board, it appears for 8 seconds as a USB device of it's own kind when plugged in and then the sketch starts running and it vanishes as a USB device. During those 8 seconds it can be programmed. What I wrote above about it maybe being tricky to get the uploader where you want it. I think on the t88 boards, reset pin resets also run the bootloader. (ATTC 2.0.0 will have like 10 options for entry conditions to fine tune your micronucleus upload experience to meet your application needs)

The Micronucleus boards do not project as a serial port (in fact, they cant even do virtual serial port - you basically can't do anything USB from within Arduino. The digispark people tried really hard and were not terribly successful. VUSB doesn't really work in the Arduino context (Interrupt driven bitbang USB is provably hopeless on classic AVRs, theoretically possible on a modern AVR , maaaybe (maybe not at 24 MHz, but those things overclock like a dream)

Even that would require sacrifices and would need a lot of work in ASM to realize) - but why would anyone bother, what with the DU-series coming out potentially sooner than most expect carrying real proper native USB and coming in pincounts from 14 to 32).

On classic AVR, the only place VUSB has seen use, it's only viable in the bootloader context, or a raw C non-arduino context (doesn't matter if you use arduino to compile it, just that you don't use any part of the core or arduino API) and override main and then doing every single thing yourself, with the first, second and third priorities being keep USB working). That's what they did for the micronucleus bootloader, and written in the way it is, It's rock solid, better than optiboot (optiboot can brick on tinyAVR if there's a power glitch or reset at a bad time, micronucleus does this correctly and does not) - but the only reason it works is that they have sorta built the whole thing around the scaffolding of needing to keep USB happy (and because they wrote it understanding the flash erase hazard that trips up optiboot)

1 Like
21

Thanks, appreciate that detailed reply - but I'm afraid 90% of it is way above my skilll level!
I'm guessing you didn't see this from post #1?
"I'm not a programmer, and floundering a bit here. So any additional advice anyone can offer on how to get my Tiny boards up and running would be much appreciated please."

The two points I do seem to be getting are:

  1. It's a trial & error hassle getting it to work at all, at least for someone at my level.
  2. Even if I did, it has what sound like great limitations for working in Arduino.

So, as 'Arduino programming' is the extent of my coding skill (no C/C++, no MCU hacking, etc), it seems these eight Tiny chips are just about worthless?

22

I haven't quite given up yet. Taking it step-by-step:

Q1:
Have I correctly installed the ATTiny 'core' please, as shown below?

LocationOfATTinyCore

Q2: The IDE (1.8.19) is running. The Tiny is not yet connected to the micro USB plug The Blink sketch is loaded and it verified successfully. The message at the bottom is as I showed previously. What exactly should I do next?