Getting Started on the Uzebox
Introduction
To start developing games and programs on the Uzebox you will need the following:
- Some knowledge of the C language: This language has been around for decades and is still the de-facto high level language for embedded applications.
- A physical Uzebox or the emulator: You are not obliged to develop on the hardware, the emulator will speed up the process since you won't have to reprogram the micro-controller or copy your game to an SD card every time.
- An AVR programmer: When using a physical Uzebox, this is also know as an ISP programmer (in system programmer). This device is used to program your game on the micro-controller, without having to remove it from the board.
- An IDE (Integrated Development Environment): This is a program that ease the development process by checking syntax, invoking the compiler and more. Some uses Atmel's AVR Studio (Windows), Eclipse CDT(Multi platform) or even a plain text editor.
- The GNU GCC tool chain for AVR: This is made of a serie of programs and tools required to compile your programs into a form that can run on the AVR micro-controller.
Software Installation
GNU Tool Chain
Windows
- Install the latest WinAVR -- Currently WinAVR-20100110. This contains the GNU C compiler and avr-libc, a very popular open source library of C functions for the AVR devices.
Mac
Mac specific software installation is here.
Linux
See this thread, and remember to download the makefile at the bottom of the first post.
IDE
- Install AVR Studio 4 (registration required, Windows only).
or
- Install Eclipe CDT (C Developement Toolkit) -- Currently 6.0.x. Be sure to install the GDB options (multi-platform).
- Install the AVR Eclipse Plugin -- Currently 2.3.1