AVR-Chat

I am new to avr, but not micros.  I would like to build my own avr programmer for USB, and was wondering if there is any open source programmer for avr that is decent (programs a fair range of avr).  I have access to other programmers I can use to program the USB avr, so that is not a problem.  
  Also, if there is any PIC based avr programmers, I would love to hear about them.......I understand that this comment is likely to get flamed.