When Arduino compiles your sketches, it produces an output file called Hex file that is a complete structure of the micro controller with bootloader.
An important process that simplify the sharing of firmware (and It is used by the most productor) is to generate pre-compiled binary file with only the sketch part.
Add verbose output to Arduino IDE
To better understand all process we are going to enable verbose output on our Arduino IDE. You can find this options on File -> Preferences and check Show verbose output.
This allows us to take and reuse console commands.
Generate and upload HEX file
A HEX file is a hexadecimal source file typically used by programmable logic devices, such as microcontrollers in remote controls, office machines, and automobile engine control systems. It contains settings, configuration information, or other data saved in a hexadecimal format.
Now we are going to compile the sketch and upload It from the IDE, on the console appear a lot of commands, but the most important for us is the upload.py command, that upload the hex on the microcontroller.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino-builder -dump-prefs -logger=machine -hardware C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware -hardware C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\tools-builder -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -tools C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -built-in-libraries C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries -libraries C:\Users\renzo\OneDrive\Documenti\Arduino\libraries -fqbn=arduino:avr:uno -vid-pid=2341_0043 -ide-version=10813 -build-path C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_887351 -warnings=all -build-cache C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_251846 -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA-1.3.0.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude-6.3.0-arduino17.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc-7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -verbose C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\examples\01.Basics\Blink\Blink.ino
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\arduino-builder -compile -logger=machine -hardware C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware -hardware C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\tools-builder -tools C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -tools C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Arduino15\packages -built-in-libraries C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\libraries -libraries C:\Users\renzo\OneDrive\Documenti\Arduino\libraries -fqbn=arduino:avr:uno -vid-pid=2341_0043 -ide-version=10813 -build-path C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_887351 -warnings=all -build-cache C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_251846 -prefs=build.warn_data_percentage=75 -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.arduinoOTA-1.3.0.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avrdude-6.3.0-arduino17.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -prefs=runtime.tools.avr-gcc-7.3.0-atmel3.6.1-arduino7.path=C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr -verbose C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\examples\01.Basics\Blink\Blink.ino
Using board 'uno' from platform in folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\avr
Using core 'arduino' from platform in folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\arduino\avr
Detecting libraries used...
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\tools\\avr/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -Wno-error=narrowing -flto -w -x c++ -E -CC -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10813 -DARDUINO_AVR_UNO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR "-IC:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\arduino\\avr\\cores\\arduino" "-IC:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\arduino\\avr\\variants\\standard" "C:\\Users\\renzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_887351\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp" -o nul -DARDUINO_LIB_DISCOVERY_PHASE
Generating function prototypes...
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\tools\\avr/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -w -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -Wno-error=narrowing -flto -w -x c++ -E -CC -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10813 -DARDUINO_AVR_UNO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR "-IC:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\arduino\\avr\\cores\\arduino" "-IC:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\arduino\\avr\\variants\\standard" "C:\\Users\\renzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_887351\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp" -o "C:\\Users\\renzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_887351\\preproc\\ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp" -DARDUINO_LIB_DISCOVERY_PHASE
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\tools-builder\\ctags\\5.8-arduino11/ctags" -u --language-force=c++ -f - --c++-kinds=svpf --fields=KSTtzns --line-directives "C:\\Users\\renzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_887351\\preproc\\ctags_target_for_gcc_minus_e.cpp"
Compiling sketch...
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\tools\\avr/bin/avr-g++" -c -g -Os -Wall -Wextra -std=gnu++11 -fpermissive -fno-exceptions -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -fno-threadsafe-statics -Wno-error=narrowing -MMD -flto -mmcu=atmega328p -DF_CPU=16000000L -DARDUINO=10813 -DARDUINO_AVR_UNO -DARDUINO_ARCH_AVR "-IC:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\arduino\\avr\\cores\\arduino" "-IC:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\arduino\\avr\\variants\\standard" "C:\\Users\\renzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_887351\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp" -o "C:\\Users\\renzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_887351\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp.o"
Compiling libraries...
Compiling core...
Using precompiled core: C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_cache_251846\core\core_arduino_avr_uno_0c812875ac70eb4a9b385d8fb077f54c.a
Linking everything together...
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\tools\\avr/bin/avr-gcc" -Wall -Wextra -Os -g -flto -fuse-linker-plugin -Wl,--gc-sections -mmcu=atmega328p -o "C:\\Users\\renzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_887351/Blink.ino.elf" "C:\\Users\\renzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_887351\\sketch\\Blink.ino.cpp.o" "C:\\Users\\renzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_887351/..\\arduino_cache_251846\\core\\core_arduino_avr_uno_0c812875ac70eb4a9b385d8fb077f54c.a" "-LC:\\Users\\renzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_887351" -lm
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\tools\\avr/bin/avr-objcopy" -O ihex -j .eeprom --set-section-flags=.eeprom=alloc,load --no-change-warnings --change-section-lma .eeprom=0 "C:\\Users\\renzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_887351/Blink.ino.elf" "C:\\Users\\renzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_887351/Blink.ino.eep"
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\tools\\avr/bin/avr-objcopy" -O ihex -R .eeprom "C:\\Users\\renzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_887351/Blink.ino.elf" "C:\\Users\\renzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_887351/Blink.ino.hex"
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Arduino\\hardware\\tools\\avr/bin/avr-size" -A "C:\\Users\\renzo\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\arduino_build_887351/Blink.ino.elf"
Sketch uses 924 bytes (2%) of program storage space. Maximum is 32256 bytes.
Global variables use 9 bytes (0%) of dynamic memory, leaving 2039 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 2048 bytes.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avrdude -CC:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -carduino -PCOM5 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_887351/Blink.ino.hex:i
avrdude: Version 6.3-20190619
Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
Copyright (c) 2007-2014 Joerg Wunsch
System wide configuration file is "C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf"
Using Port : COM5
Using Programmer : arduino
Overriding Baud Rate : 115200
AVR Part : ATmega328P
Chip Erase delay : 9000 us
PAGEL : PD7
BS2 : PC2
RESET disposition : dedicated
RETRY pulse : SCK
serial program mode : yes
parallel program mode : yes
Timeout : 200
StabDelay : 100
CmdexeDelay : 25
SyncLoops : 32
ByteDelay : 0
PollIndex : 3
PollValue : 0x53
Memory Detail :
Block Poll Page Polled
Memory Type Mode Delay Size Indx Paged Size Size #Pages MinW MaxW ReadBack
----------- ---- ----- ----- ---- ------ ------ ---- ------ ----- ----- ---------
eeprom 65 20 4 0 no 1024 4 0 3600 3600 0xff 0xff
flash 65 6 128 0 yes 32768 128 256 4500 4500 0xff 0xff
lfuse 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
hfuse 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
efuse 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
lock 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
calibration 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 0 0 0x00 0x00
signature 0 0 0 0 no 3 0 0 0 0 0x00 0x00
Programmer Type : Arduino
Description : Arduino
Hardware Version: 3
Firmware Version: 4.4
Vtarget : 0.3 V
Varef : 0.3 V
Oscillator : 28.800 kHz
SCK period : 3.3 us
avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions
Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.00s
avrdude: Device signature = 0x1e950f (probably m328p)
avrdude: reading input file "C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_887351/Blink.ino.hex"
avrdude: writing flash (924 bytes):
Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.16s
avrdude: 924 bytes of flash written
avrdude: verifying flash memory against C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_887351/Blink.ino.hex:
avrdude: load data flash data from input file C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_887351/Blink.ino.hex:
avrdude: input file C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_887351/Blink.ino.hex contains 924 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip flash data:
Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.13s
avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 924 bytes of flash verified
avrdude done. Thank you.
In this output you can find the folder of HEX file
C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_887351/Blink.ino.hex
and you can steal the command to upload the HEX file
C:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avrdude -CC:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -carduino -PCOM5 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:C:\Users\renzo\AppData\Local\Temp\arduino_build_887351/Blink.ino.hex:i
Avrdude
AVRDUDE (AVR Downloader Uploader) is a program for downloading and uploading the on-chip memories of Atmel’s AVR microcontrollers. It can program the Flash and EEPROM, and where supported by the serial programming protocol, it can program fuse and lock bits. AVRDUDE also supplies a direct instruction mode allowing one to issue any programming instruction to the AVR chip regardless of whether AVRDUDE implements that specific feature of a particular chip. (cit.)
This is distribuite with Arduino IDE and It’s the default instrument to upload code on Atmel board.
Download
But you can download It separately, for MacOS for Windows and for Linux (with default packet manager).
avrdude.conf
To use avrdude in the simplest way need an avrdude.conf where It can find the specs of avery microcontroller, selected with the parameter of the call.
-patmega328p: select the processor;-carduino: select the programmer.
Next we need to know
-PCOM5: select the port of the microcontroller;-b115200: set the upload speed.
Generate HEX file
Naturally you don’t need to examine the console to get this file, you can generate It by click on Sketch -> Export compiled Binary. Then by click on Sketch -> Show Sketch Folder you can look what happened.
Here you can find 3 file (Here the example for Blink.ino sketch):
Blink.ino.standard.hexBlink.ino.with_bootloader.standard.hex
As you can understand the first is the precompiled without bootloader (only sketch with libraries), the second is the precompiled with the bootloader.
So the command you can use for upload is posted at the top.
Command line flash
Remember to download avrdude, I already posted the download link for MacOS for Windows, with Linux you can use packet manager.
And for Windows remember to check the flag Add Directories to PATH.
Alternately you can add to path the avrdude of your Arduino IDE, you can grab the path from the previous output console.
C:\Users\renzo>avrdude -v -patmega328p -carduino -PCOM5 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:D:\tmp\testBlink\Blink\Blink.ino.standard.hex:i
avrdude: Version 5.10, compiled on Jan 19 2010 at 10:45:23
Copyright (c) 2000-2005 Brian Dean, http://www.bdmicro.com/
Copyright (c) 2007-2009 Joerg Wunsch
System wide configuration file is "C:\WinAVR-20100110\bin\avrdude.conf"
Using Port : COM5
Using Programmer : arduino
Overriding Baud Rate : 115200
AVR Part : ATMEGA328P
Chip Erase delay : 9000 us
PAGEL : PD7
BS2 : PC2
RESET disposition : dedicated
RETRY pulse : SCK
serial program mode : yes
parallel program mode : yes
Timeout : 200
StabDelay : 100
CmdexeDelay : 25
SyncLoops : 32
ByteDelay : 0
PollIndex : 3
PollValue : 0x53
Memory Detail :
Block Poll Page Polled
Memory Type Mode Delay Size Indx Paged Size Size #Pages MinW MaxW ReadBack
----------- ---- ----- ----- ---- ------ ------ ---- ------ ----- ----- ---------
eeprom 65 5 4 0 no 1024 4 0 3600 3600 0xff 0xff
flash 65 6 128 0 yes 32768 128 256 4500 4500 0xff 0xff
lfuse 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
hfuse 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
efuse 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
lock 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 4500 4500 0x00 0x00
calibration 0 0 0 0 no 1 0 0 0 0 0x00 0x00
signature 0 0 0 0 no 3 0 0 0 0 0x00 0x00
Programmer Type : Arduino
Description : Arduino
Hardware Version: 3
Firmware Version: 4.4
Vtarget : 0.3 V
Varef : 0.3 V
Oscillator : 28.800 kHz
SCK period : 3.3 us
avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions
Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.01s
avrdude: Device signature = 0x1e950f
avrdude: safemode: lfuse reads as 0
avrdude: safemode: hfuse reads as 0
avrdude: safemode: efuse reads as 0
avrdude: reading input file "D:\tmp\testBlink\Blink\Blink.ino.standard.hex"
avrdude: writing flash (924 bytes):
Writing | ################################################## | 100% 0.19s
avrdude: 924 bytes of flash written
avrdude: verifying flash memory against D:\tmp\testBlink\Blink\Blink.ino.standard.hex:
avrdude: load data flash data from input file D:\tmp\testBlink\Blink\Blink.ino.standard.hex:
avrdude: input file D:\tmp\testBlink\Blink\Blink.ino.standard.hex contains 924 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip flash data:
Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.15s
avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: 924 bytes of flash verified
avrdude: safemode: lfuse reads as 0
avrdude: safemode: hfuse reads as 0
avrdude: safemode: efuse reads as 0
avrdude: safemode: Fuses OK
avrdude done. Thank you.
As explained before we are going to set the chip, speed, port and the file, and avrdude do the work.
Flash with GUI tool
Exist a very simple GUI tool for windows to do the same operation the avrdudeGUI, and you can download It from here.
It is necessary to copy the same parameter in the graphical interface, the programmer and the port:
and the chip and HEX file.
