(Late reply.)

> > cross/avrdude                      karlj@mdstud.chalmers.se
> 
>  Output written on avrdude.pdf (19 pages, 134220 bytes).
>  Transcript written on avrdude.log.
>  dvips -o avrdude.ps avrdude.dvi
>  This is dvips(k) 5.95a Copyright 2005 Radical Eye Software (www.radicaleye.com)
>  dvips: ! DVI file can't be opened.

texi2dvi is invoked to build avrdude.dvi from avrdude.tex.  texi2dvi
picks up pdftex as TEX by default.  This could be overriden by passing
TEX=tex to texi2dvi.

tex should also be taught to TOOLS.

Masao