Simple Serial AVR Programmer (DASA)

Make It

This is a very simple, small, and cheap ($4) programmer. It does not have its own power and it only works with chips that support “serial in circuit programming” - so mostly ATtiny13a, ATtiny25, ATtiny45, ATtiny85, ATtiny2313, and such. It does not work with the whole Arduino line - ATmega168, Atmega328P, and Atmega644 (just get a USBtinyISP for $22 - this is all you ever need when it comes to AVR programming).

It uses the smaller 6-pin ISP header (which I prefer). If you need a 10-pin ISP header you can either get an AVR ICSP Adapter or AVR Programming Adapter from SparkFun.

3 Resistor 4.7kΩ ¼W 5% - yellowpurpleredgold
3 Zener Diode 5.6V (1N5232B)
1 DB-9 Female Connector  
1 PCB  

Use It

Here are the lines that need to be changed in your Makefile (adjust the number of the com port, if necessary).

AVRDUDE_PORT = com1 # programmer connected to serial port
AVRDUDE_PROGRAMMER = dasa