This project is an instance of the UsbProg project created by Benedikt Sauter. Bene released the schematics, board layout and firmware as an open-source project. Dean Hall took that project and made these modifications:
- Changed CONN1 to a type Mini-B receptacle (so it would be surface mount).
- Changed most parts to have surface mount packages (except jumpers and headers).
- Added capacitors C1 and C2 for decoupling.
- Added CONN3 2×5 pin header for Port A (the ADC inputs).
- Added JP3 jumper header to choose which pin controls LED1.
With a bit of work the board can be etched at home and you’ve got yourself a home made programmer. Or you could just pay $30 and get the original mkII from Atmel.( I chose the original one 
)
UsbProg-SHARP Clone Of AVRISP mkII: [Link]
ATMEGA8 DevBRD is an open source development board for the Atmel ATmega8 build especially for Linux users. The board is well suited for beginners who just want to start learning the avr programming but also for advanced users who want to use it as an MCU board.
ATMEGA8 DevBRD: [Link]
The author spend 4 months coding everything from scratch. The result was however worth the effort. This new programmer works flawless and it’s a diy project. The programmer firmware has no device dependent data. Therefore it works for almost any AVR microcontroller on the market and possible future microcontrollers.
This USB programmer can be build from scratch without the need of another programmer to load the initial firmware. The firmware is open source and programmed in C according to the AVR068 specification from Atmel.
AvrUsb500 - an open source Atmel AVR Programmer: [Link]
Most of todays AVR programmers don’t support the high voltage mode the only widely available possibility beeing the STK500 from ATMEL. HVProg is a redesign of the original STK500 without all components of a development board. It is based on the original ATMEL schematics that are freely available on the net (i.e at avrfreaks.net). The main target was to keep all nessecary functionality to programm all available AVR controllers in every programming mode that the STK500 supports.
I never need-ed high voltage programming so far, so the fact that my AVR MK II doesn’t support high voltage programming doesn’t bother me, because i don’t need it.
HVProg Parallel and serial High Voltage Programmer: [Link]
Here is another useful project based on the Atmel’s AVR butterfly kit. We should define “useful” though, this circuit was designed to trigger almost all Canon SLR cameras from a distance, so first of all you should own a Canon SLR camera and than carry on with the project. The circuit is controlled by an ATmega169 and powered by a 9V battery.
Canon SLR Camera IR Remote: [Download Project] - [View Project PDF] - [Via]
