Upload already compiled code on Linux CLI without arduino-cli

Question

I have a sketch for an Arduino Nano. I'm compiling it on my build server and get these 3 files:

• project.bin.elf
• project.bin.hex
• project.bin.with_bootloader.hex

Now I need to be able to upload/flash them onto the board (connected via a serial interface) without arduino-cli. Mainly because I can't install it via apt-get which means I'd have to start jumping through loops to be able to use it (stuff like keeping it up to date, installing, etc. on hundreds of devices).
So I was wondering if there are any tools in the debian repositories I can use to upload the compiled sketch and if so how.

I've been looking for a solution and came across several answers and topic but strangely enough all either use arduino-cli, other specialized tools or link to dead pages or pages that no longer contain the answer.

Examples:

• How to compile, upload and monitor via the Linux command line?
• Compiling sketch vi command line

• Kwasmich: avrdude is your friend.
• Juraj: upload Blink to Nano from IDE and then copy the avrdude command from IDE console and modify it to upload the project.bin.hex file
• BrainStone: @Juraj do I see this command on the Windows version too? Alternatively could I get arduino-cli to output the command? Because I have test boards available I can install anything on. (I just can't get it on every board)
• Juraj: turn on verbose mode

Answer 1

Use avrdude.

The command format is simple, assuming you have installed it from the Linux repositories:

avrdude -carduino -patmega328p -P/dev/ttyUSB0 -b115200 -Uflash:w:/path/to/project.bin.hex:i

Depending on what bootloader is installed in your nano you may need to change the baud rate (-b115200) to 57600. Also, of course, the USB device should be set to what your board actually identifies as.

The breakdown of the command is:

-c<programmer type>
-p<part name>
-P<port>
-b<baud rate>
-U<instruction>

The programmer type, part name and baud rate can all be gleaned from the boards.txt file in the AVR core files. For example, for the Nano:

nano.upload.protocol=arduino
nano.menu.cpu.atmega328.upload.speed=115200
nano.menu.cpu.atmega328.build.mcu=atmega328p

relate to -c -b and -p respectively. The instruction will always be the same, and means "Write to flash the following file in IHEX8 format". "flash" is the destination memory, "w" is the write command, and ":i" at the end defines the expected file format.

On a Linux computer with avrdude installed you can find much more information with man avrdude.

• BrainStone: That answers my question, but since SE is meant as an enciclopedia of sorts, I think it would be beneficial to explain how you figure out that command line call for other boards. (And also because I managed to find a similar call after some playing around and watching the processes in htop while trying to flash with arduino-cli)
• Majenko: @BrainStone Like that?
• BrainStone: Excellent. Thank you very much
• jsotola: if you are unsure of the settings that you should use, then you can use the Arduino IDE to determine them .... in settings, turn on show verbose output during upload .... then upload any sketch .... in the status panel in the Arduino IDE you will see the correct avrdude command line .... something like E:\arduino-nightly\hardware\tools\avr/bin/avrdude -CE:\arduino-nightly\hardware\tools\avr/etc/avrdude.conf -v -patmega328p -carduino -PCOM4 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Local\Temp\build3bb8345d83cedc585b1cb6c2216554cb3.tmp/BasicSerial.ino.hex:i