programming an atmega8 with a usbasp requires no serial port but the IDE does

Development Tools IDE 1.x
1

Dear,

I have problem uploading my code to a standalone atmega8 on a breadboard using a usbasp v2.0.
This programmer does not create a serial device so there is no /dev/ttyUSB0 or any equivalent device.

I can read the device correctly with avrdude:

$ avrdude -p m8 -c usbasp

avrdude: warning: cannot set sck period. please check for usbasp firmware update.
avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions
Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.01s
avrdude: Device signature = 0x1e9307
avrdude: safemode: Fuses OK (H:FF, E:CA, L:DF)
avrdude done.  Thank you.

I think this means that all the connections are ok. I can even upload a bootloader via the IDE using my custom boards.txt:

atmega8usbasp.name=ATmega8 (uploading with ASBAsp)

atmega8usbasp.upload.protocol=usbasp # was arduino, tried: avrisp, usbasp, stk500, usb
atmega8usbasp.upload.maximum_size=7168
atmega8usbasp.upload.speed=19200
atmega8usbasp.upload.using=usbasp

atmega8usbasp.communication=usb

atmega8usbasp.bootloader.low_fuses=0xdf
atmega8usbasp.bootloader.high_fuses=0xca
atmega8usbasp.bootloader.path=atmega8
atmega8usbasp.bootloader.file=ATmegaBOOT-prod-firmware-2009-11-07.hex
atmega8usbasp.bootloader.unlock_bits=0x3F
atmega8usbasp.bootloader.lock_bits=0x0F

atmega8usbasp.build.mcu=atmega8
atmega8usbasp.build.f_cpu=8000000L
atmega8usbasp.build.core=arduino
atmega8usbasp.build.variant=standard

As I said, the IDE successfully uploads a bootloader using these settings. The problem is: I don't want a bootloader, I just want to upload a sketch, but when I do that I get:

Binary sketch size: 914 bytes (of a 7,168 byte maximum)
processing.app.SerialNotFoundException: Serial port 'COM1' not found. Did you select the right one from the Tools > Serial Port menu?
	at processing.app.Serial.<init>(Serial.java:191)
	at processing.app.Serial.<init>(Serial.java:77)
	at processing.app.debug.Uploader.flushSerialBuffer(Uploader.java:77)
	at processing.app.debug.AvrdudeUploader.uploadViaBootloader(AvrdudeUploader.java:175)
	at processing.app.debug.AvrdudeUploader.uploadUsingPreferences(AvrdudeUploader.java:67)
	at processing.app.Sketch.upload(Sketch.java:1671)
	at processing.app.Sketch.exportApplet(Sketch.java:1627)
	at processing.app.Sketch.exportApplet(Sketch.java:1599)
	at processing.app.Editor$DefaultExportHandler.run(Editor.java:2380)
	at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:724)

Mu best guess at the moment is that this is a bug in de IDE?
Can you confirm this?

Thanks,

2

This does look like you are still trying to upload via Serial. This may not be the case but check the following.

You must have usbasp chosen in Tools > Programmers, since you say you have set Fuses by uploading bootloader.

When using a programmer you need to specifically choose 'Upload via Programmer', rather than just 'Upload'. IIRC yiu can also hold Shift while clucking the Compile & Upload icon.

3

Thanks a lot. I was just using the "upload" shortcut button on the action bar:s
I can't test it right now, but I am pretty sure this will fix my problem.

Many thanks for the help!