emSynth Software Documentation

My Rant About Software Setup

Some things are just plain annoying no matter what you do.  I find software setup to be like that because it always seems to be such a pain to do.  Every time I go to do something that involves libraries or non-automated software installation, something seems to go wrong and I end up yelling out loud in frustration and annoying my neighbors with curse words while shaking my fists at nobody in particular!  Sound familiar?  Yeah, it can be frustrating when things go wrong for reasons you don't understand.

I had a similar bit of frustration when installing the software that we will use to program our emSynth chips, so I wanted to write some support docs with links and explanations of gotchas that I am aware of related to this intrepid journey.  This way you won't have to wave your fists and scream curse words at nobody in particular like I did, or that's the plan anyway!  So by way of introduction I shout a loud !@#$ %^& *()_+!!!! at the software universe for being so inexplicably complex and unnecessarily so, and offer some helpful information for you to enjoy.

Please note that I am not writing a set of installation instructions as that has been done very well by others.  What I am doing is adding all the little chickenscratch notes in the sidelines that you would otherwise write yourself by way of explaining things that are not explained optimally.  Here goes something...

The Links

The links that I used to install the software are here in this section.  I gathered them all here together for  you to make your job easier by providing all the information you need in one central location.

Link #1:  Installation Instructions

Link #2:  Arduino Programming Environment

Link #3:  Library for Our Chip (ATtiny85)

Link #4:  GitHub Project for ATtiny85

The Process Overview

As mentioned above I will not repeat the instructions provided in the links as they are well written by others.  I will, however provide you with an overview of the process.  That's another annoying part of non-automated software installation - the mystery of "what am I doing" as you do it.  So here's an overview.

The steps are actually just a few, as listed below.

  1. Install the Arduino Programming Environment
  2. Add the ATtiny85 Library (and Driver for PC)
  3. Program a "Hello World" Test Chip
  4. Power up the Chip and Watch the LED Blink!

So ta-da! just a few steps.  Oh, don't worry there are steps within the steps that are detailed in the installation instructions.  We also have our familiar situation of things being entirely different from one operating system to another, be it Mac vs. Windows or various flavors of Windows.  What ya gonna do?  I tell you, actually, what we need here is a "tree" of instructions much like a directory structure, AKA directory tree, which details all possible paths that you may need to traverse depending on your particular combination of operating system and programmer.  Maybe I'll attempt that later.  Anyway, there I go ranting again, hrmph!  There you go - an overview of the process.

If All Else Fails

Wait don't scream!  Don't shake your fists and curse the very bloodlines of this evil man who sold you the unprogrammable chips!  When all else fails you have at least one more resource - and that is me, myself, and I.  Yep I'm happy to help you to the best of my limited ability in getting your software set up and working.  That's not just being nice, it's motivated self interest for me to minimize returns, maximize word of mouth sales, and generally grow my business.  So don't think I'm being Mr. Nice Guy here (although really I am...) when I tell you that you can reach me via email or telephone - yes even telephone - to solve your installation woes.  Actually you can call me for any reason including just to say "hi" or "thanks" or whatever else you want to say.  But no fist-shaking and cursing allowed!  Only positive vibrations come this way so be nice why dontcha?  haha.  Here is the contact info.

Les Hall - President, Owner, and Chief Sanitation Engineer of emSynth - contact information:  emsynth@gmail.com, 954-270-4150.

I may not know all, but I will certainly do my best to help!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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