AVR-Chat

Being a test engineer I always cringe when I see a designer lock out 
the ability to upgrade the software, I know you are just programming 
the bootloader and the application gets downloaded. I can't tell you 
how many times engineers have come to me and ask me to fix their BRICK 
after they accidentally overwrote the bootloader.
At least make some test points for either the ISP or JTAG pins then 
you can use a small pogo pin fixture to re-program the device if 
necessary, it takes less than 6 pins for ISP and 8 for JTAG. There are 
some small spring loaded connectors that also could be used, 6 test 
points at .05 spacing won't take up too much space.
Just out of curiosity is this for space or security reasons?
Dyan….