AVR-Chat

--- In AVR-Chat@yahoogroups.com, "David Jones" <david.jones@s...> 
wrote:

> ... ISP modes on other micros
> like the PIC just work. No traps.

Maybe the PIC, but not all micros. The ZiLOG Z8 Encore! has a far 
worse gotcha than the AVR because the oscillator settings are 
controlled by the first word of program memory, not by separately 
accessed fuses. So, you can shoot yourself in the foot much more 
easily, including just looking at program memory in the debugger and 
trying to change what is stored by typing over values. It works, but 
thereafter nothing else does.

I agree that this is an issue for beginners and more attention should 
be brought to it.

Recall that I discovered that fuse gotchas are solved for AVRs with 
the JTAG interface because this interface does not require the clock 
to be running so you can repair any fuse misconfigurations.

The thread on the STK500 was really interesting. I was, of course, 
looking for new product opportunities, but it seems that ISP is a 
generally a solved problem.

Graham.