I have not used that so far but will try to answer.
Quote:
I’d like to program the attiny in straight assembly, with an ISP programmer. Is this possible, or do I have to use the Arduino IDE/Arduino programming language? Are there any resources for this type of thing?
I don't know if the Arduino IDE supports assembly language for the ATtiny85. But you can use Atmel Studio 7 | Microchip Technology Inc.[^] (the Atmel IDE).
Maki Young wrote:
On the Atmel website it lists the attiny85 as having a 512 byte EEPROM and a 4kb main memory. When I program the attiny85 am I programming the EEPROM directly or is there some type of boot loader/firmware already there that will load programs off the memory? Is it possible to write my own boot loaders?
According to the data sheet the EEPROM can be written by a programmer. But the code resides in the main (flash) memory. The EEPROM is for storing data like serial numbers, calibration data, and configuration data. When using assembly language there is no boot loader. You have to write all the code and program it to the the flash memory. You may however write some kind of boot loader yourself. Such boot loaders are common to check for specific conditions on IO pins upon power on and enter a special mode (e.g. for code updates: The loader accepts commands on an interface and might program received data to flash and/or EEPROM). Then the normal code can be updated (which is executed when not in the special mode) but updating the boot loader itself would still require a programmer.
Maki Young wrote:
Do I need an external crystal, or will the internal crystal be fine for what I intend to do? If I do need an external crystal, how do I go about wiring that up?
Just use the internal oscillator. An external crystal is only usefull with special requirements like frequencies not supported by the internal oscillator or a high stability clock.
Maki Young wrote:
How would I go about powering the attiny?
By applying a voltage to the power pins (VCC and GND; 2.7 to 5.5 V / >= 1.8 V for the V type).
Maki Young wrote:
Also, an