Necessary AVR development packages in Debian are:

• binutils-avr - Binary utilities that support Atmel's AVR targets.
• gcc-avr - The GNU C compiler (cross compiler for avr)
• gdb-avr - The GNU Debugger for avr
• avr-libc - Standard C library for Atmel AVR development

In addition, some people use:

• simulavr - Atmel AVR simulator
• uisp - Micro In-System Programmer for Atmel's AVR MCUs

The current version of uisp has a bug in programming the ATMega48, so I use AVRDude instead. To view or edit the PCB layout, use Eagle:

• eagle - Printed circuit board design tool
• eagle-data - Data files for Eagle

If this is your first time installing Debian, do a minimal install, and then use apt-get to install packages as needed (installing packages is fast, easy, and painless, at least with a network connection). Emacs is probably the best editor. The starting screen when you run Emacs will tell you how to run a tutorial that will teach you to use it.

Useful Debian-specific commands:

• apt-get install eagle gcc-avr - This would install the Eagle and AVR compiler packages
• apt-cache search avr - This would find all packages with AVR in the name
• dpkg -r gcc-avr - Removes the AVR compiler package
• dpkg --purge gcc-avr - Really remove the AVR compiler package, and all traces it existed (e.g. configuration files you may have modified)