Do i even need this?

[AdvsNoob]

Hi i am working on a new project called S.Y.T.H and it is my first big project and i want to get it all right, good god this site is here ^_^

OK here is two of the products i need help with.

AVR ISP2 Programmer

Roboduino

Isnt the programmer like a microcontroller? some one told me i would need it but i do not really know if i will?

[madchimp]

The programmer is how you transfer the code you write to the microcontroller. Some microcontrollers have a bootloader so you can program them from either the serial connection or usb connection they have but i believe from the posts on the roboduino it doesn't have a bootloader preinstalled though one could be added. Airman00 should be able to help you with that.

[Ro-Bot-X]

Airman00 told me the bootloader is optional. I chose to get it, since I don't have a programmer and I want to use the Arduino software to program it. So, as a beginner, I would not get the programmer, just the Roboduino with the bootloader uploaded. Besides, with a programmer it's easy to brick your micro if you are not carefull enough with the fuses. After a while, when you run out of programming space in your micro, you can buy a programmer and erase the bootloader.

[airman00]

You have three options with the Roboduino
1) With Arduino Bootloader - http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Bootloader
2) With the fast tiny & mega UART bootloader - http://www.societyofrobots.com/bootloader_50_robot.shtml
3) With no bootloader at all - this would mean that you need an ISP programmer

[AdvsNoob]

You have three options with the Roboduino
1) With Arduino Bootloader - http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Bootloader
2) With the fast tiny & mega UART bootloader - http://www.societyofrobots.com/bootloader_50_robot.shtml
3) With no bootloader at all - this would mean that you need an ISP programmer

Hay airman what ever you think is better you can pack me one when i buy it ok ^_^

[airman00]

well you want a bootloader but I dunno which one - you wanna program with teh Arduino software or in straight C in AVRstudio

[AdvsNoob]

well you want a bootloader but I dunno which one - you wanna program with teh Arduino software or in straight C in AVRstudio

i guess i will go with AVRstudio. they have many programming tutorials and i always want to learn more things ^_^ thanks airman00