The backstory is this: I'm thinking about the cheapest way to update AVR's remotely. They will have a secure bootloader so that the firmware will be sent to the AVR encrypted and then the bootloader will decrypt it and flash it.
I've thought about a PC driven type solution with a cable of some type and a PC side application, which has the advantage of once you have it, you could update device(s) multiple times and you could send the encrypted firmware over email, etc. which would also be convenient. I think they sell those PL2303 ttl uart cables for less than $4, but that would mean dealing with uart and not all of my projects have a crystal. Might be able to get the uart to work even without though.
But that would require the work of making the cable/miniboard/pc application which could be done, but it is work.
I then thought what about using a cheap throwaway piece of EEPROM. At startup the device could see if the memory is present and then flash if it is found. You can get some for 60 cents that can hold 32K or so. In this case, no cable/miniboard/pc application, but the question is how to interface it?
I tried messing around with a PDIP-8 (before the legs are squared with one of those tools), and you can carefully put it into the holes of a DIP socket that is unpopulated and it seems to have a little tension to hold itself there and is probably making a good connection, but I wondered, are there packages that would work better?
Can a SOIC-8 be pressed onto pads and get a good connection? What about a DIP-8?
I _could_ solder a SOIC-8 onto a tiny board with inline header and put that through holes held at an angle for a good connection, but I don't want to have to solder it!
Just thinking out loud here, all thoughts welcome!