AVR Studio 5 - Atmel Studio 6

AVR studio has been the complete solution to AVR microcontrollers so far. It is a complete IDE for the AVR architecture based microcontrollers. It provides support for both the 8-bit and 32-bit AVR microcontrollers. Some of its features are as follows
Atmel® AVR Studio® 5 is the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for developing and debugging embedded Atmel AVR® applications. The AVR Studio 5 IDE gives you a seamless and easy-to-use environment to write, build, and debug your C/C++ and assembler code.

• One environment for 8– and 32–bit
• Integrated Compiler
• Simulator to simulate the compiled code
• Debugger
• A better editor i.e. it displays the available functions or properties while writing the code itself
• AVR software framework i.e the production ready programs written and included in the Library itself.Also it enables us to include our own library files.
• In-built programmer
• JTAG debugger
• Supports different types of In-system Programmers(i.e. documented by AVR not the 3rd party tools)
• Helps in building both the bootloader and the application sections
• Free to use by registering and 
• even has update facilities

                        

 Some screenshots:

AVR studio start page

AVR studio is widely used and hence widely provided with the documentation and tutorials to use.The manufacturer themselves provided a complete series of video tutorials on how to use AVR studio.You can view/download these video tutorials from youtube.

Video tutorials for AVR studio 5

Atmel studio

                     Recently AVR Studio which supported only AVR architecture microcontrollers was replaced by the Atmel studio 6.0 which extended it's support for both the AVR based and ARM based microcontrollers manufactured by the Atmel corporation. It provides one stop solution to all the embedded system solution for the Atmel manufactured microcontrollers.

         

         Atmel^® Studio 6 is the integrated development platform (IDP) for developing and debugging Atmel ARM^® Cortex^™-M and Atmel AVR^® microcontroller- (MCU-) based applications. The Atmel Studio 6 IDP gives you a seamless and easy-to-use environment to write, build and debug your applications written in C/C++ or assembly code.

Atmel Studio 6 is free of charge and is integrated with the Atmel Software Framework (ASF)—a large library of free source code with 1,600 ARM and AVR project examples. ASF strengthens the IDP by providing, in the same environment, access to ready-to-use code that minimizes much of the low-level design required for projects. Use the IDP for our wide variety of AVR and ARM Cortex-M processor-based MCUs, including our broadened portfolio of Atmel SAM3 ARM Cortex-M3 and M4 Flash devices.
With the introduction of Atmel Gallery and Atmel Spaces, Atmel Studio 6 further simplifies embedded MCU designs to reduce development time and cost. Atmel Gallery is an online apps store for development tools and embedded software. Atmel Spaces is a cloud-based collaborative development workspace allowing you to host software and hardware projects targeting Atmel MCUs.
                   In summary, standard integrated development environments (IDEs) are suited for creating new software for an MCU project. By contrast, the Atmel Studio 6 IDP also:

• Facilitates reuse of existing software and, by doing so, enables design differentiation.
• Supports the product development process with easy access to integrated tools and software extensions through Atmel Gallery.

Software Libraries and Device Support

The Atmel Software Framework is a collection of production-ready source code such as drivers, communication stacks, graphic services and touch functionality. Tap into 1,600 project examples with source code to accelerate development of new applications.

Atmel Gallery

You can now download and securely purchase both Atmel and third-party compilers, advanced debugging tools, real-time operating systems, communication systems and other extensions and plug-ins straight from the Atmel Studio 6 development platform and via gallery.atmel.com. The Atmel Gallery app store provides development tools and embedded software for MCU-based application design.

When you encounter a need for a tool in the midst of your development process, or are seeking some basic source code, you won't have to leave your environment to search for your solution. From Atmel Gallery, you can also download a plug-in that will give you direct access to Atmel Spaces, our new collaborative workspace.

Atmel Spaces Collaborative Workspace
With embedded applications easily topping tens of thousands of lines of code—often written by designers dispersed around the globe—efficient collaboration is critical for a project's success. Atmel Spaces provides a cloud-based workspace where you can securely share and track open-source, community-developed embedded design projects with your peers.

With access control, version control, bug and feature trackers, mailing lists and wikis, Atmel Spaces provides a secure and efficient place for sharing design tips, tricks and resources and for tracking progress of projects with your peers.

Atmel studio is also well documented and atmel manufacturers themselves provided tuts to use Atmel studio. It is free to download  and use the Atmel studio by registering.

Atmel studio 6 video tutorials

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Diptrace

Easy to use professional software for designing a PCB and it includes all the features needed to develop a fully professional PCB.
It comes in handy when making a professional PCB and is quite easy to use and more like the CADSOFT Eagle software. It is also widely supported with various tutorials, expanding libraries and  features. The company provides the software for lowcost for non-profit uses and educational purposes.
DipTrace is a complete state-of-the-art PCB Design System. It includes:

• PCB Layout — PCB design with an easy-to-use manual routing tools, shape-based autorouter and auto-placer.
• Schematic — Schematic Capture with multi-level hierarchy and export to PCB Layout, Spice or Netlist.
• Component and Pattern Editors — allow you to make new parts and footprints.
• Standard Libraries - include 100,000+ parts.
• 3D PCB Preview - shows your design in 3D. 2500+ package 3D models are supplied with the program.
• Import/Export Features - allow you to exchange designs and libraries with other EDA tools.
• Step-by-Step Tutorial - learn the software and start real work in a few hours.
• Full featured 30-day trial and 300-pin Freeware versions are available for evaluation.
• Special Discounts for non-profit users and education. 

  

  Schematic Design in Diptrace

  

  Layout Design

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  3D view of the PCB

    
  The interesting tool in Diptrace is that it also has an autoplacer. It enables one to make a complete PCB  with almost a few clicks after making the schematic. It also has efficient autorouter and provides the support to import various EDA design files easily.
  
  

DipTrace provides the following features:

Easy to learn user interface
To design a schematic, simply select and place components onto your document and connect them together using the wire and bus tools. Multisheet and hierarchical schematics are supported. Then select the menu option 'Convert to PCB' to convert the schematic to PCB. Layout can be updated from Schematic in a few clicks at anytime. When you create or edit design objects they are highlighted to improve your work. Step-by-step tutorial guides you through the design process and allows to get started with ease.

Smart placement and auto-placement features
After converting Schematic to PCB layout, place board outline and arrange components. Then use "placement by list" for chips/connectors and auto-placement for other components to get acceptable result in a few minutes and start routing.

Easy to use manual and powerful automatic routing
DipTrace PCB software includes 2 automatic routers (Shape-based and Grid-based). Shape Router is able to route complex layouts with SMD components as well as single-layer boards. Grid Router can also make single-layer boards with jumper wires. With Specctra DSN/SES interface you can use external shape-based or topological autorouter. Intelligent manual routing tools allow you to create and edit traces by 90, 45 degree or without any limitations. Curved traces are supported. Through, blind or buried vias can be used in automatic and manual routing. Board size is not limited.

Shape-based copper pour
Powerful copper pour system can help to reduce your manufacturing costs by minimizing the amount of etching solution required. To use it, all you have to do is insert a copper area on your board in the PCB Layout program and any pad or trace inside the selected area will be automatically surrounded with a gap of the desired size. Using copper pour you can also create planes and connect them to pads and vias (different thermal types are supported).

Advanced Verification Features
Schematic and PCB design modules have number of verification features that help control project accuracy on different design stages: The ERC function shows possible errors in Schematic pin connections using defined rules and allows you to correct errors step-by-step. DRC function checks the clearance between design objects, minimum size of traces, and drills. Errors are displayed graphically and you can fix them step-by-step and rerun the DRC in one click after any corrections. Net Connectivity Check verifies if all nets of PCB are electrically connected. This feature uses traces, copper pour filled area and shapes to control connectivity, then reports broken and merged nets with area details. Comparing to Schematic allows you to check if routed PCB is identical with Schematic.

3D PCB Preview
DipTrace PCB Layout module includes 3D preview feature which shows you how your completed project will look like. This feature uses hardware graphics acceleration, so you can change colors and rotate/zoom/pan board in real-time. 2500+ package 3D models are available for free and you can use any models in VRML 2.0 or 3DS formats.

Spice Support
With DipTrace Schematic Capture or Component Editor specify spice settings or attach models to the parts. Then export .cir net-list of your Schematic to LT Spice or another simulation software to verify how it works.

Import/Export Features
Package modules allow you to exchange schematics, layouts and libraries with other EDA and CAD packages (DXF, Eagle, P-CAD, PADS, OrCAD). DipTrace Schematic Capture and PCB Layout also support Accel, Allegro, Mentor, PADS, P-CAD, Protel and Tango netlist formats.

Manufacturing output formats
DipTrace provides support for a number of different manufacturing output formats. Using this PCB software you can produce N/C Drill files for numerically controlled (N.C.) drilling machines and RS-274X Gerber files for sending to board manufacturers. Vectorizing function allows to export true-type fonts and raster images. Also DipTrace supports DXF output.

Producing PCBs using milling method
DipTrace allows you to export edge polylines to DXF. The DXF files can be converted to G-code with Ace Converter (it's free). Before edge exporting the DRC function of pcb layout program checks the design and shows possible problems if exist.

Standard component libraries
DipTrace package includes component and pattern libraries which contain 100,000+ components from different manufacturers.

Creation of your own libraries
Component and Pattern Editors allow to design your own symbols and patterns. To create complete components simply connect them together using Component Editor.

... and much more!

Well, it's good isn't it!Want to try out Diptrace...
           
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