# Install bootloadhid with Homebrew, Nix HID-based USB bootloader for AVR microcontrollers. Version 2012-12-08 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:bootloadhid ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install bootloadhid ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#bootloadhid ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/bo/bootloadhid/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:bootloadhid - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 2012-12-08 - **Source summary:** HID-based USB bootloader for AVR microcontrollers - **Homepage:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-only OR GPL-3.0-only - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - bootloadHID (cli) - bootloadHID (alias) ## Dependencies - libusb-compat ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 2012-12-08 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://www.obdev.at/products/vusb/bootloadhid.html - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage BootloadHID is Objective Development's HID-class USB bootloader for AVR microcontrollers using the V-USB software USB stack. Its history is narrow but useful: it solved the practical problem of updating small AVR firmware over USB without requiring custom kernel drivers on Windows. ### Project history The official page presents BootloadHID as a USB boot loader for AVRs with at least a 2 kB bootloader section, including popular chips such as the ATmega8. The bootloader occupies the upper flash area, starts after reset, and either waits for USB upload when a configured hardware condition is met or jumps to the target firmware. Objective Development's release table shows public BootloadHID archives from June 2007 through December 2012. Release notes mention code-size optimizations, fixes for larger flash devices, improvements ported from USBaspLoader, updates to the V-USB driver, and compatibility fixes for newer gcc/avr-libc. ### Adoption history BootloadHID's adoption was mainly in the AVR hobbyist and small-device firmware world, where V-USB made USB possible on microcontrollers without dedicated USB hardware. The project was attractive on Windows because HID devices could use built-in OS support rather than a custom kernel driver. ### How it is used Users configure the boot condition and firmware settings in the source tree, flash the bootloader into the AVR boot section, reset the board into bootloader mode, and upload an Intel HEX file with the `bootloadHID` command-line tool. The host-side tool accepts the firmware image as its main argument. ### Why package nerds care BootloadHID is package-nerd significant as a tiny embedded tool that package managers keep alive after upstream release activity slowed. It represents the era of software-only USB on AVR parts and the practical value of HID-class protocols for avoiding driver installation. ### Timeline - 2007: First listed BootloadHID archive published by Objective Development. - 2008: Releases add USBaspLoader improvements and code-size work. - 2010: Release adds gcc 4 optimizations and a command-line utility option. - 2012: Latest listed release updates the driver and fixes newer gcc/avr-libc builds. ### Related projects - Related projects include Objective Development's V-USB firmware-only USB stack, Thomas Fischl's avrusbboot, USBaspLoader, and third-party HID boot flash tools for Windows. ### Sources - - - source_facts.package-manager ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Configuration and credential file locations These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval. ## Configuration files - Unix: firmware/bootloaderconfig.h, firmware/Makefile ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** bootloadhid - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - bootloadhid: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/bo/bootloadhid/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Web development packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/web-dev-tools/) - Matched web development metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [libusb-compat](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libusb-compat/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [dfu-programmer](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dfu-programmer/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, embedded, system, usb. - [dfu-util](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dfu-util/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, embedded, system, usb. - [flip-link](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/flip-link/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, embedded, system. - [rpiboot](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rpiboot/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, embedded, system. - [bootterm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bootterm/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: bootloader, cli, embedded, system. - [u-boot-tools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/u-boot-tools/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: bootloader, cli, embedded, system. - [blink1](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/blink1/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, usb. - [cyme](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cyme/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, system, usb. - [sispmctl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/sispmctl/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, compat, libusb, libusb-compat, system. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/bootloadhid.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/bootloadhid.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph