Programming Digital Modules

Most of the digital and hybrid modules of bread Modular including 8bit and MIDI use a microcontroller called ATTiny 1616. This guide shows you how to program those modules with our provided firmware (from source code) or customize them as you want.

Programmer#

In order to program these modules, we need an interface between the computer and the module. That's a programmer. In this case we use a programmer with a protocol called UPDI (hence UPDI programmer).

If you need the easiest way, you can get our updi-programmer or you can convert any Arduino into such a programmer.

Interfacing#

Now connect your UPDI programmer to the computer via USB. Then get the single UPDI wire and connect it to the correct socket (or hole) in your module.

Usually the UPDI socket is named as "U" or "UPDI" and generally it's the last socket in the input section.

But in our hi-hat module, it's located in the bottom middle.

Related Software#

We don't provide pre-built firmware but we provide the source code. Don't worry, it only takes about 10 seconds to program your module once connected.

These are the software tools we need:

• VS Code (or Cursor)
• Install the Platform IO extension from the "VS Code Marketplace"
• Go to Platform IO's "Platform" section and select & install "Atmel megaAVR"

Source Code#

Now you need the source code which contains the firmware of your module.

• For that download our GitHub repository.
• Then go to your module.
• Visit the directory called code and there will be one or many directories.
• Select one of those and that's the source code of your firmware.

Once you select the firmware, open it using VSCode.

Flashing#

The process of sending the firmware into the microcontroller is known as flashing.

Selecting the Programmer#

You need to select the correct UPDI programmer in PlatformIO.

For that, click the dropdown in the VS Code footer as shown below and pick your programmer.

If you don't know the name of your programmer, just unplug it from the USB. Check the list. Plug it back in and find the new one on the list.

To flash, you can click the following button on the bottom of VSCode.

It will take about 10-20 seconds to complete the process.

If you have a MacBook with Apple Silicon chip, you may have to install Rosetta with the following command in the terminal:

softwareupdate --install-rosetta --agree-to-license

Yeah! You have successfully programmed your module.

Experimentation#

Here's the fun part. Just don't stop here. Experiment with the source code and customize it. Especially firmwares for modules like 8bit.

If you are new to programming, use an IDE like Cursor to help you with the use of AI.

Fun Fact: 80% of our firmware codebase is written by AI. We simply guide it to do what we want to do.