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ISPHIDIUS

Web-Based USB ISP Programmer

ISPHIDIUS is a compact, open-hardware USB ISP programmer that works directly from your web browser using WebHID. It is designed as a modern, driver-free alternative to traditional USBasp-style programmers, enabling firmware upload, Flash/EEPROM read-write, and device identification without installing desktop software.

Once connected via USB, ISPHIDIUS appears as a standard HID device, allowing secure communication from a simple HTML page — no plugins, no native applications, no complicated setup.

How It Works

At its core, ISPHIDIUS bridges the gap between the browser and the microcontroller.

  • The firmware implements a lightweight HID protocol over USB (based on V-USB).
  • The web interface uses the WebHID API to exchange structured 8-byte reports.
  • Commands such as:
  • Chip Erase
  • Flash Write
  • EEPROM Write
  • Flash / EEPROM Verify
  • Device Signature Read

The browser (host) manages page alignment, addressing, buffering, and verification, while ISPHIDIUS handles the low-level SPI signaling toward the target AVR microcontroller.

Why ISPHIDIUS?

ISPHIDIUS enables a clean and modern workflow:

  1. Plug in the device
  2. Open the web page
  3. Select the programmer
  4. Start programming

This architecture is especially suitable for:

  • Classrooms and STEM labs
  • Workshops and hackathons
  • IT-restricted environments (no driver installation allowed)
  • Cross-platform development (Windows, macOS, Linux)

By combining the simplicity of USB HID with the flexibility of browser-based tools, ISPHIDIUS brings AVR ISP programming fully into the web era.