AVR-Chat

I second BASCOM as easy and quick.  It is terrible for large or complex as
the code generation is mediocre at best.  But if you use mainly the library
support (e.g. keyboard input, LCD output, one wire interface, etc), those
are all written in assembly and are generally very tight.  So for simple
projects with little BASIC and mostly calls to library functions it actually
makes very small code.  You can try it out for free: a 2k limited version is
available for download at www.mcselec.com

I wrote a FSM multi-tasking robot control code with something like 7 tasks
and five sensors and two motors all in about 180 lines of code that fit in
the 2k limit.  So it is pretty usable for small projects.  Look here for the
sample code: http://www.barello.net/ARC

If you want cheap (free): GCC C compiler (www.winavr.net) but no tightly
integrated IDE.  But, probably the best code generation around.  You do have
to learn about makefiles and become familiar with how the compiler works to
get the best code.  So you pay for the free price with the learning curve.

Imagecraft and Codevision both have tight IDEs, but I can't vouch for their
quality over large projects.  I believe they are adequate.  Imagecraft is
more traditional with libraries & linkers and that probably supports large
projects better than CV which has only one file (but uses includes to
simulate libraries).  IAR has the expensive industrial strength compiler,
but at $1800/seat it is out of my pocket book.

-----Original Message-----
From: VA3TO

I never took to C and I usually prefer assembler but when it comes to
the AVR,
I am partial to Bascom.  Todays Basic compilers are much more structured
& efficient and have come a long way since the days of GOTO 100.
"This is not your father's Basic" :)
Bascom has a lot of built-in functions, it's quick and easy to get
something
up and running and there are lots of samples and support for it. You can
also