Arduino IDE Digispark Setup in Windows 10

Created on: 17 July 2020

Part 2 of the Digispark Arduino Tutorial Series

This part of the Digispark Arduino tutorial series shows how to set up the Arduino IDE to program Digispark ATtiny85 boards in Windows 10. After setting up the software and drivers, the board is tested by loading a Blink sketch to it that blinks or flashes the on-board LED.

The basic steps that must be followed to program a Digispark board using the Arduino IDE in Windows 10 are 1) download and install the Arduino IDE, 2) install board support in the Arduino IDE, 3) install Windows drivers and 4) test the installation by loading a sketch to the Digispark board.

Digispark and compatible boards, as shown in the image below, can be programmed from the Arduino IDE in Windows 10 after following this tutorial.

Instructions in this tutorial and in the video that follows are based on the Digispark programming instructions on the Digistump Wiki. Either watch the video below, or follow the instructions below the video.

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Arduino IDE Digispark Windows 10 Setup Tutorial Steps

The following steps show how to set up a Digispark board for programming with the Arduino IDE in Windows 10.

1. Install the Arduino IDE

This can be done by either downloading and running the Windows Installer, or by downloading the Windows ZIP file. If the Windows ZIP file is downloaded, it must simply be unzipped, and the folder extracted to a convenient location, such as the Windows Desktop. Just open the extracted folder and double-click the Arduino executable file to start Arduino.

The image below shows the contents of the folder extracted from the downloaded zipped file, with the Arduino application selected. Simply double-click this file to start the Arduino IDE application.

2. Install the Digispark Board Support Package

Start the Arduino IDE application that you downloaded in the previous step.

Open Preferences Dialog box

From the top menu of the Arduino IDE application, select File → Preferences to open the Preferences dialog box.

Paste the following in the Additional Boards Manager URLs: box of the Preferences dialog box.

The image below shows the Additional Boards Manager URLs field of the Preferences dialog box.

Click the OK button to close the dialog box.

Open Boards Manager Dialog Box

In the Arduino IDE, use the top menu to navigate to Tools → Board → Boards Manager. to open the Boards Manager dialog box.

Type Digispark into the search field at the top of the Boards Manager dialog box that contains the text «Filter your search. » to easily find the Digispark package.

After filtering the packages, Digistump AVR Boards is displayed in the Boards Manager dialog box. Click the Install button at the bottom right of the Digistump item in the dialog box, as shown in the image below.

After clicking the Install button, the package will start installing. This may take a while, depending on the internet speed.

When installation completes, click the Close button at the bottom right of the dialog box.

3. Install the Digispark Windows 10 Drivers

Unzip the Digistump.Drivers.zip file downloaded from the above link and extract the Digistump Drivers folder from it.

Open the unzipped Digistump Drivers folder, as shown in the following image.

Double-click either DPinst64.exe on a 64-bit Windows computer, or DPinst.exe on a 32-bit Windows computer to install the Digispark drivers.

When prompted to install the driver with the following dialog box, click the Install button.

If a dialog box pops up that displays Windows can’t verify the publisher of this driver software, click the Install this driver software anyway button.

After the driver installation has finished, click the Finish button in the Device Driver Installation dialog box.

4. Testing the Digispark Driver Windows 10 Installation

Uploading a sketch to a Digispark board works differently from other Arduino boards. The board must not be plugged into a USB port, but must first be selected in the Arduino IDE. No port is selected. The sketch is uploaded, and when a prompt appears in the Arduino IDE, the board is plugged into a USB port. The following tutorial steps show how to load a sketch to a Digispark board.

Digispark Blink Sketch

The following sketch works on both Model A and Model B Digispark boards. The difference is that Model A boards have the on-board LED connected to pin 1, while the Model B boards have the on-board LED connected to pin 0.

Copy the following sketch and paste it into the Arduino IDE window. Save it as digispark_blink or a name of your choice.

Select the Digispark Board in the Arduino IDE

From the top menu in the Arduino IDE, select Tools → Board → Digistump AVR Boards → Digispark (Default — 16.5MHz) to select the Digispark board.

Load the Blink Sketch to the Digispark Board

Click the Arduino Upload button on the top toolbar before plugging the Digispark board into a USB port.

Wait for the prompt at the bottom of the Arduino IDE window, as shown in the following image.

When the prompt Plug in device now. (will timeout in 60 seconds) appears, plug the Digispark board into a USB port of the computer.

After the sketch finishes uploading, a success message running: 100% complete and >> Micronucleus done. Thank you! appears at the bottom of the Arduino IDE window, as can be seen in the following image.

Digispark на Attiny85 — подключение под Windows 10

Если Вы читаете эти строки, значит что-то пошло не так… с подключением данного микроконтроллера. Знаю, у меня самого за сутки до написания статьи было так-же, но техноманьяки — народ упоротый упертый

Можно было спокойно заюзать любую из трех имеющихся ардуин или «голую» Atmega328P-PU/Atmega8-16PU

В конце концов, ПРОСТО загрузить USB-Linux c arduino ide под него.

Нет-же, в этот раз свет клином сошелся на Диджиспарке и ДЕСЯТКЕ — зря что-ли платил $3 за ESD-лицензию?.

«Уж если я чего решил, то выпью обязательно» пел Высоцкий, и как Вы поняли — таки да!

Ладно, с присказками закончили — бутаем комп, заходим в биос.

Находим пункт устройства/порты — USB — да, Digispark не работает с USB-3

Отключаем совместимось USB3-Disable (У некоторых просто может выставляться режим порта — ставим USB-2 Compatible)

У меня этот пункт назывался xHCI — Disable

Не торопитесь выходить — включите отладку — Debug-Enable

Опять на моем биосе эта функция зовется иначе — EHCI — Enable

Гуд? Загрузили винду?

Не торопитесь входить в ArduinoIde!

Снесите для начала Все установленные ранее дрова под digistump/digispark!

WIN-x — выполнить — regedit — поиск ищем digistump в реестре и беспощадно удаляем, F3 — поиск дальше!

Повторяем процедуру со словом digispark.

Контролный reboot в голову — винда все-же 😉

Теперь нам нужно сделать две закачки — правильный комплект дров с лоадером — micronucleus по ссылке

У меня это была версия micronucleus-2.0a4-win.zip

Еще нужна прога ArduinoIde с предустановленной поддержкой Digispark-a — идем сюда:

качаем последний ArduinoIDE, моя версия(на 07.06.2018) — DigisparkArduino-Win32-1.0.4-May19.zip, извлекаем содержимое.

На 64-битке — работает!

Распаковываем/сетапим наш микронуклеус драйвер.

Окей, запускаем DigisparkArduino версии 1.0.4!

Старый? А Вам Шашечки или Ехать?

Its a Sparta — это винда!

Лулзов добавляет, трейдмарк Sparta, под которым у меня импульсный паяльник и набор отверточек.

Но не торопитесь подключать плату в Usb порт!

Выбираем (в ArduinoIDE ) Сервис-Плата-Digispark (Tiny Core)

Наконец пришло время поморгать светодиодом 😉

Загружаем Ctrl-U (ведь правда мы еще не вставляли плату в ЮСБ? ЭТО ВАЖНО!!)

Вот только после такой надписи внизу — включаем Digispark в порт.

иначе он будет бесцельно блинкать появляясь и исчезая в устройствах — как первый спутник земли!

Если ВСЕ пункты выполнялись внимательно и последовательно, то мы получим подобную картинку

Digistump Wiki

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Table of Contents

Connecting and Programming Your Digispark

Bootloader:

The bootloader is the code that is pre-programmed on your Digispark and allows it to act as a USB device so that it can be programmed by the Arduino IDE.

The Digispark runs the “micronucleus tiny85” bootloader version 1.02, an open source project: https://github.com/micronucleus/micronucleus originally written by Bluebie: https://github.com/Bluebie.

CAUTION We are not at this point supporting upgrading the firmware, so if you decide to, you do so entirely at your own risk.

Software:

The Digispark uses the Arduino IDE 1.6.5+ (Arduino 1.6.5r2 — NOT 1.6.6 or 1.6.7 strongly recommended)

Installation Instructions:

and click OK

Note: If you already have additional URLs entered in that box, then click the button on the right of the box and enter this URL on a new line.

Linux Install

Sources

Using the Digispark with the Arduino IDE:

The Digispark works a bit differently than some Arduino compatible products. The Digispark programs with a different procedure.

From the Tools menu select Board→Digispark (Default — 16.5Mhz)

(The Tools→Programmer selection does not matter)

Write some code, open your code, or open a Digispark example.

You do not need to plug in your Digispark before invoking upload

Hit the upload button. The bottom status box will now ask you to plug in your Digispark — at this point you need to plug it in — or unplug and replug it.

You’ll see the upload progress and then it will immediately run your code on the Digispark.

If you unplug the Digispark and plug it back in or attach it to another power source there will be a delay of 5 seconds before the code you programmed will run. This 5 second delay is the Digispark Pro checking to see if you are trying to program it.

Your first upload:

If you’re just getting started try the above procedure with the example you can find by going to File→Examples→Digispark→Start

Here is the code it will load:

This code will blink the BUILTIN LED (on either pin 0 or pin 1 depending on the Digispark model see:Model Identification).

As soon as it has uploaded you should see the LED start to blink!

For some sample code for the basic I/O function see here: Digispark Basics

Digispark Differences and Using Arduino/Processing with the Digispark:

The Arduino Environment introduction is a great start if you are new to the Arduino IDE: http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/Environment

The Digispark supports all features found in the IDE with the exception of the serial monitor and the burn bootloader functionality.

Many existing libraries will not work with the Digispark: For I2C devices check out the TinyWireM library, which makes it super simple to port an I2C based device library over to use with the Digispark.

For a handy pin reference flip over the Digispark — pin capabilities are listed on the back

For some sample code for the basic i/o function see here: Digispark Basics

Precautions:

The Digispark, due to its small size and low cost is not as robust as a full blown Arduino.

When testing a new circuit we recommend that you test it with an external power supply first. Connecting a shorted circuit to the Digispark and connecting it to your computer could damage your computer and/or its USB ports. We take no responsibility for damage to your machine as a result of the use of a Digispark.

We strongly recommend connecting your Digispark through a USB hub which will often limit the damage caused by a short circuit to the usb hub. For the record, we’ve found many computers have usb fuses built in, and when we blew them on our 27“ Mac monitor, thankfully they reset and everything worked after a power down.

The Digispark does not have short circuit or reverse polarity protection. Connecting power to the Digispark power pins backwards will almost certainly destroy it.

The Digispark is small enough to present a choking hazard and small enough to be inserted into some sockets. We take no responsibility for misuse of the product. Please treat electricity and electronics with respect and common sense.

Troubleshooting:

The Digispark pushes affordable, small components to their limits by using software to emulate USB functions generally served by a dedicated chip. For this reason much of the Digispark’s USB operation is considered borderline out of spec . Certain laptops, older machines, and just some cheaply made USB hubs/controllers do not like this. We tested and designed the Digispark for maximum compatibility but we can not guarantee it will work with everything.

In addition remember the Digispark only shows up as a programmable device for 5 seconds, after that it will start running its code (when it is new and un-programmed this means it will blink) and disappear or act like the USB device you programmed it to act like.

Always remember to unplug the Digispark before hitting upload and plug it in when the Arduino IDE requests you to. If you get an error that assertion failed or micronucleus crashed during upload then you probably did not unplug your Digispark before uploading.

If the computer will not recognize the Digispark try the following:

If it won’t upload:

Did you set your board AND programmer to Digispark in the Arduino IDE?

WINDOWS:

MAC

If your upload fails in the middle of it, you may also be using a bad USB cord and or a bad hub.