A lamp for nerds

If you're using a UNIX-oide operating system, install the following software using your package management tools:

* avr-gcc
* avr-libc
* avr-binutils
* avrdude 5.11 or later
* Code::Blocks IDE (optional, but recommended)

If for some reason you can't find usable versions in the code repositories, have a look at 2 posts on avrfreaks.net

A) >> http://www.avrfreaks.net/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=104134 B) >> http://www.avrfreaks.net/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=42631

If you're a beginner, get an experienced friend to help you there. And make BACKUPS, _always_ make backups!

If you've already got the linux version of the Arduino IDE up and running, you should be good.

If you use winblows, get AVRStudio4 + the latest WinAVR release. The code compiles just fine using the 'external makefile' option.

Google for howto guides, extensively use Youtube to see how it is done. Get a good soldering station, proper SnPb 60/40 solder (the lead-free stuff is EVIL) with rosin core, fluxed solder wick/braid, tweezers, IPA wiping alcohol, cotton swabs and a stiff bristled brush, dry tip cleaner (brass shavings) and additional flux (dispenser pen or preferably paste flux in a syringe). This will not be cheap, but if you spend a reasonable amount now, the hardware will last many years. You'll definitely want to spend most of your budget on an adjustable! and well regulated soldering station. Take a look at what gear your fellow geeks use and test it. If it works for you and is within your budget, consider making a purchase. You simply can't expect to have fun working with a 10$ soldering iron that constantly burns your parts. Finally a little piece of wisdom: "Use more flux!". And if that doesn't help: "USE MORE".

Personally I use 'KICAD', which happens to be open source and does not limit you in board size. It runs well on linux and the microsoft OS. For historical reasons (I guess) many 'open source hardware' companies seem to use EAGLE, which runs on winblows and linux (wine) and possibly also on mac-os. There's also 'gEDA', which is very powerful but maybe somewhat hard to use. The GERBER viewer of that package (called 'gerbv') is very good. You'll find many good tutorials on the web. Don't expect to have these tools up and running within a few minutes. You need to spend a couple of hours (or even days) using them to get the hang of it (or to come to the decision to look for another program). Don't use tools that for some reason cannot create GERBER files. Don't get trapped by "vendor lock-in".

Again it is all about the price. There are basically two options. A) quick and expensive, B) slow and cheap(er). For small runs I recommend having a look at pooling services (like Laen's PCB service at dorkbot.pdx), if you need more have a look at these websites: seeedstudio.com / iteadstudio.com / elecfreaks.net - they have very good deals. If you need something quickly and money is not important, I can recommend goldphoenixpcb.com - there are MANY more places to get PCBs fabricated, but I can only recommend the ones I've personally dealt with. PCB fab houses usually want 'GERBER' files from you.