Problem flashing Sea Micro (atmega32u4) using DFU

I just received a hillside48 with a Sea Micro atmega32u4 USB-C microcontroller (ordered on beekeeb), and I experienced some challenges uploading the QMK firmware using DFU. I think I have solved the problem (or at least found a workaround), but I still have not gotten around to solder the keys to my keyboard and tested it, so I will have to write a update once that is completed.

Tldr: use avrdude to flash the MCU

I think this issue is with QMK or the microcontroller, but for now I wanted to add it here. Perhaps something could be written about it in the documentation.

My problem was when running the qmk flash command.

~ qmk flash
Ψ Compiling keymap with make -r -R -f builddefs/build_keyboard.mk -s flash KEYBOARD=hillside/48/0_1 KEYMAP=gbthreepwood KEYBOARD_FILESAFE=hillside_48_0_1 TARGET=hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood INTERMEDIATE_OUTPUT=.build/obj_hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood VERBOSE=false COLOR=true SILENT=false QMK_BIN="qmk"

avr-gcc (GCC) 13.2.0
Copyright (C) 2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Size before:
   text    data     bss     dec     hex filename
      0   18082       0   18082    46a2 hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood.hex

Copying hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood.hex to qmk_firmware folder                                     [OK]
Checking file size of hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood.hex                                              [OK]
 * The firmware size is fine - 18082/28672 (63%, 10590 bytes free)
Flashing for bootloader: atmel-dfu
Bootloader Version: 0x00 (0)
Checking memory from 0x0 to 0x6FFF...  Empty.
Chip already blank, to force erase use --force.
Checking memory from 0x0 to 0x46FF...  Empty.
0%                            100%  Programming 0x4700 bytes...
[ X  ERROR
Memory write error, use debug for more info.
make: *** [platforms/avr/flash.mk:173: flash] Error 254

Directly calling the dfu-programmer software gives the same error:

dfu-programmer atmega32u4 flash hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood.hex --debug 2
     target: atmega32u4
    chip_id: 0x2ff4
  vendor_id: 0x03eb
    command: flash
      quiet: false
      debug: 2
device_type: AVR
------ command specific below ------
   validate: true
   hex file: hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood.hex

Checking memory from 0x0 to 0x46FF...  Empty.
0%                            100%  Programming 0x4700 bytes...
[ X  ERROR
Memory write error, use debug for more info.

The following works, and afterwards it seems that the qmk flash also started working:

avrdude -p atmega32u4 -c flip1 -U flash:w:hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood.hex

Output is:

avrdude warning: USB bDeviceClass = 255 (expected 254)
avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions
avrdude: device signature = 0x1e9587 (probably m32u4)
avrdude: Note: flash memory has been specified, an erase cycle will be performed.
         To disable this feature, specify the -D option.
avrdude: erasing chip

avrdude: processing -U flash:w:hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood.hex:i
avrdude: reading input file hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood.hex for flash
         with 18082 bytes in 1 section within [0, 0x46a1]
         using 142 pages and 94 pad bytes
avrdude: writing 18082 bytes flash ...
Writing | ################################################## | 100% 1.12 s 
avrdude: 18082 bytes of flash written
avrdude: verifying flash memory against hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood.hex
Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.44 s 
avrdude: 18082 bytes of flash verified

avrdude done.  Thank you.

I now get the following upon issuing qmk flash:

Ψ Compiling keymap with make -r -R -f builddefs/build_keyboard.mk -s flash KEYBOARD=hillside/48/0_1 KEYMAP=gbthreepwood KEYBOARD_FILESAFE=hillside_48_0_1 TARGET=hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood INTERMEDIATE_OUTPUT=.build/obj_hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood VERBOSE=false COLOR=true SILENT=false QMK_BIN="qmk"

avr-gcc (GCC) 13.2.0
Copyright (C) 2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO
warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Size before:
   text    data     bss     dec     hex filename
      0   18082       0   18082    46a2 hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood.hex

Copying hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood.hex to qmk_firmware folder                                     [OK]
Checking file size of hillside_48_0_1_gbthreepwood.hex                                              [OK]
 * The firmware size is fine - 18082/28672 (63%, 10590 bytes free)
Flashing for bootloader: atmel-dfu
Bootloader Version: 0x00 (0)
Checking memory from 0x0 to 0x6FFF...  Not blank at 0x1.
Erasing flash...  Success
Checking memory from 0x0 to 0x6FFF...  Empty.
Checking memory from 0x0 to 0x46FF...  Empty.
0%                            100%  Programming 0x4700 bytes...
[>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>]  Success
0%                            100%  Reading 0x7000 bytes...
[>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>]  Success
Validating...  Success
0x4700 bytes written into 0x7000 bytes memory (63.39%).
make: *** [platforms/avr/flash.mk:173: flash] Error 254

There is still a error 254 message, but at least it seems like some uploading did happen.

mmccoyd / hillside

Problem flashing Sea Micro (atmega32u4) using DFU #33