TinyAVR Programmer
The TinyAVR programmer is the easiest way to get started. The tutorial here is quite good:
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/tiny-avr-programmer-hookup-guide but basically you need to:
* install USB drivers from https://cdn.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Dev/AVR/usbtinyisp_libusb_1.2.6.0.zip
(right-click on USBtiny.inf -> Install)
* install Arduino IDE from https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
* copy attiny folder from https://cdn.sparkfun.com/assets/learn_tutorials/1/5/0/attiny-ide-1.6.x.zip into c:\Program Files (x86)\Arduino\Hardware
Inside Arduino IDE select
* Tools -> Board -> ATtiny
* Tools -> Processor -> ATtiny85
* Tools -> Clock -> 8MHz (internal)
* Programmer -> USBtinyISP
Then to compile a program:
* copy and paste the simple blink program in (from the next page)
* Sketch -> Upload using Programmer.
If that all works then the yellow LED on the board will start blinking - it has an LED onboard so you can see that your program is running without taking the chip out.
It's available from Sparkfun for around £20 or proto-pic.co.uk for £13
The USBasp (see next Chapter) is cheaper at around £1 - £3 but you have to manually wire up the chip (6 wires)
If you get these errors in Windows Device Manager then you've got a faulty one:
"Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)"
"Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed"