[Amforth-devel] Connection to host

[Mike B. <mi...@mj...>]

Having read the documentation for AMForth, I am keen to use it for a current project, but it 
is still not clear to me how one initially downloads the compiled hex (or object) file to the 
AVR. Some kind of programmer is surely implied in addition to the PC on which the file has 
been generated, though it seems to be stated that this can be achieved with only a serial 
link to the target machine. The on-chip UART cannot be functional on a virgin chip (and in 
any case RS232 levels would, of course, need at least level conversion). The only methods 
I am aware of are "parallel programming" (simple in concept but requires the manipulation 
of most AVR pins) or "serial programming" (alias "In System Programming"), using a 6-pin 
SPI interface, perhaps with the addition of a clock. The four SPI signal pins (MOSI, MISO, 
RESET and SCLK) could in principle be driven from a parallel port, as in the SP12 project - 
perhaps the answer.

What am I missing?

Mike Beach