AVR, where to start?

Start with a keyword search Arduino and Freeduino. They can be ordered ready (i.e. get ready "piece of metal" will remain nakodit the firmware and flash it in MK, there are plenty of projects and examples)

DIY target Board. It is not difficult, but soon many things will become clear and you will feel that you did it.
There is a very good blog easyelectronics.ru/ — there you will find how to make the first "flasher" flasher to it, you will find the control-segment indicators.
As for the controller — classic mega8, you will be able to do even usb gadgets.

If it's a hobby — look at the side of the Arduino and its analogues. For a start.
If you decide to engage in professional electronics development — choose the target system with the right peripherals you...
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Well, where to buy — you decide. There are a lot of factors — the cost and availability.
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For example, Muscovites and Petersburgers — Arduino and analogues can be found in stock in shops (Chip and Dip, Linuxcenter). But there will be more expensive than over the Internet.
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Using the Internet is cheaper but there is shipping time. You can buy through Ebay or other Western sites of the original Arduino. It is important to remember about shipping, unfortunately, it's not the fastest option.
Another option is Russian counterparts, they are not very much, but there is a choice. Here is the best offer on cost and shipping. Manufacturers freeduino.ru robocraft.ru jt5.ru
There are also shops — ampere and other, rock search.

inside ATS already have everything you need. any peripherals, interfaces etc. the ATS will work in General without any strapping. the outputs are powerful enough. just to try, there is absolutely no point in taking complete charge, all you can do on the edge of the table, knowing how to take a soldering iron and no more.
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PS. http://easyelectronics.ru/:)

Both of you just wanted to advertise? "With a soldering iron I do that, and so I would like to get to the beginning ready to charge with mounted microcontroller".
Soldering target Board and say "there is absolutely no point in taking ready to charge, all you can do on the edge of the table" otherwise makes no sense.
PS and AVR will not work just do nothing, to start the meal on the right foot, but still good to make sure that the included internal clock generator.
Just to try to Oprogramowanie Board based on the arduino platform and fits perfectly

Arduino don't listen. to start learning AVR with Arduino, is primrno the same as to start learning programming with PHP
left a lot of unnecessary garbage.

take the smallest, like tiny2313, it seems the com port is.
here we learn there chakava to do, and the indicators do not need ), to start at least the console lift up to 128 bytes operatives...