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I'm working on a Android App able to update the content of my Arduinos. Start to work (reset the Arduino, communicate with STK500 protocol, get id of ATmega and so on). But I face a question about the two hex files produced by the compiler. Some FAQ, forum... give replies about the two, explaining: "the ino.hex file has only the code and the other as the code + the code of the bootloader". After having a look at the hex files, that's true: you can find in the "with_bootloader" the code of the bootloader.

The "why" gives the following answer: "that's because when the bootloader receive the code, it erases the flash so the installed bootloader destroy itself. So if you send without bootloader, you will not have a bootloader any more in the Arduino".

Problems:

1) In that case, in order to change the bootloader why use an ISP? Just add the HEX code of your new bootloader in the main HEX file, send it with AVRDUDE and that's all...
2) When you use the Arduino IDE with AVRDUDE in Verbose mode you'll see AVRDUDE send the file.... without the bootloader!

So the question is: when you want to update the content of the flash, sending "manually" the data using STK500 protocol, do you need to send the "ino.hex" or the "ino.with_bootloader.hex" file? And why?

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2 Answers 2

Reset to default
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If flashing with AVR In System Programing (ISP) the bootloader is not needed. Only the flashing over Serial needs a bootloader.

The ISP erases the flash including the bootloader. To be able to use the serial flashing after ISP, the hex with_bootloader can be used.

I flash AVR over WiFi with esp8266's core AVRISP library and I use the hex with_bootloader to have the option of flashing later over USB.

Your Android app will use the serial flashing utilizing the bootloader. The bootloader doesn't delete itself. So you should use the hex WITHOUT bootloader.

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  • Nice answer, coming from one who use and not only copy answer from others. Thanks VERY MUCH!
    – Peter
    Feb 1, 2018 at 12:52
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While flashing the Arduino over USB (UART) you use the bootloader in that case the bootloader doesn't delete itself that's why the Arduino IDE sends the file without the bootloader. You need to use the file with a bootloader only when you are programming using an ISCP programmer and want to keep the ability to flash through USB.

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