000 - ESP32 MicroPython: How to Get Started with MicroPython 

Thank you @NesbyBone and you're welcome.

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@phil nelson, glad that you liked it. I experience same problem as you, I learned assembly language for PIC microcontrollers from school then learn C and VHDL in work but due to few circumstances, I change my career but I am still fascinated with controlling the LED to blink :D. Kidding aside, I decided to purchased PIC learning board only to found out that Arduino are more popular and commonly use by tinkerers. And my knowledge is a bit rusted. Anyways, I am now back playing with electronics. I would to hear from you soon. Happy tinkering. Thanks

@@TechToTinker It's interesting that you mention the PIC controller. Back in 1995, I started to work for Autostart, a company that produced remote car starters (start your car by remote control.) At that time, the controller used discrete components like the 555 timer and a few others. This was the 810 model. The company had one employee and the owner and had sold 4000 units the year I was hired as a contractor. He had a company produce a controller using the Motorola controller but because 1995 was the year that Motorola stopped selling their controllers and used them for their own cell phones which started to gain in popularity. I was asked to research another controller and he showed me the specs for the Microchip controller (I can't remember the model at this time) so I developed a plug-in board to use the Microchip PIC to replace the Motorola based board and from there, I started to develop more products based on Microchip's controllers. That year, we sold 8000 units, the next was 13000 and it grew till 10 years later, we were selling 250000 remote car starters and alarms. At one point, the CEO of Microchip came to Montreal from Arizona to visit us to ask if there was anything we needed from them to ask them. We were told that Autostart was the largest user of Microchip on the east coast of North America. The only other larger user of the PIC was General Motors. When I started using Microchip, the only language available was the assembler (they later came out with a C language, which I couldn't understand) so I developed a BASIC cross compiler which generated assembler code. I could mix basic and assembler code in the same program without using an instruction to switch between each. Those were the days. Oh yes... Another point, I did succeed in installing MicroPython on the ESP32 board. One of the instructions was different from one of the download sources (I believe it was for the USB driver) but I managed to figure it all out and, it was un-necessary since the Arduino IDE already had it for the ESP32 board.

@@philnelson2364 wow that's a lot of experience especially for the assembly language. I would like to encourage you, maybe you can create assembly language tutorials for those who want to learn it. I am glad you make some progress in MicroPython. Cheers.

​@@TechToTinker hi please after this video if want to work with arduino ide i want to know if i must do the same steps with my esp32 nodemcu or no because already done with thonny and already my esp32 is flashed.... thx a loy

Hi Michael, thank you for the kind words. And welcome to Arduino world it's fun to learn it. Cheers

@Javier Pasetti, Im glad that you find it useful :) and thank you.

Hi Kevin, definitely I will create MicroPython series of tutorial. And noted for your request. Thank you.

@@TechToTinker Thank you the MORE the better this is SUCH AN UNDERTAUGHT skill this would put you as the PREMIER trainer in MicroPython! I would make 100 vids on it over time make it the PREMIER MP site!

Good idea Kevin, I will look on that. Thank you for the suggestion

Hi Miguel, glad you liked it. Thanks

Glad it helped! Thanks.

Glad it was helpful! Thank you.

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you too!

@Professor Marcos Carnevali, thank you.

Hi Ramesh, I am happy to know you. Glad that you like my tutorials. I agree with you about the Thonny Python IDE, it has almost all the necessary tools for building MicroPython codes. But of course there are other more advance IDE like VSCode. And thank you for your suggestions, noted with that.

Glad you like them!

My pleasure. Thank you.

Noted on this @Venkatesh

@Brian Cooper, the command line or more better to call as REPL is best to use when explaining the concept. In anyways, you can upload your program to ESP and save it as main.py. That way, your program will run after the reset or power ON. By the way, thank you for the kind words :). Cheers

@@TechToTinker I was playing with the IDE part and noticed that it is it's own thing. Everything that I had done in the REPL did not apply there. I Just wasn't sure how it worked until I played with it. It makes more sense now. BTW: thanks for helping me get it going in the first place.

@@briancooper2737 wow congratulations :). Keep it up bro. I think we can say we know how to ride a bike after actually riding a bike. I am happy for your achievement, thank you.

you are welcome. Cheers

Hi @hAMid MAndi, I am not familiar with Linux environment but I believe the steps is very similar with Windows. You may observe that I installed the esptool plugin within Thonny, maybe you need to copy that steps. Cheers, George Bantique, #TechToTinker

Hi, thank you for the kind words. After you flash the esp32 with micropython and you decided to use it with Arduino IDE, you just need to upload a program. Arduino IDE will take care of flashing it with the default firmware.

@@TechToTinker thx but after using arduino ide and i wand to return to thonny i must flash esp32 again yes ? thx

Most welcome. Thanks.

@Pal Sih, yes correct most of old version of ESP32 needs BOOT button in order to flash it. Newer versions has been modified a little to take that.

@Zoyam Chuang, glad you like it. I will take note of your suggestion. You may also check other MicroPython videos. Thank you.

@@TechToTinker I also written a HackMD note hackmd.io/x3cd61mySQyJ9Op5iN3jeA?view to teach my club member to use esp32 with micropython

Hi Rameshkumar, you could find a link in the video description. Click that and that should bring you to my blog post. For your convenience, here it is: techtotinker.blogspot.com/2020/09/micropython-tutorial-how-to-get-started.html

Thanks for your reply. I have already visited your blog spot. My question was, is there is an example library available in thonny? Same like in arduino IDE??

Your problem could be in the USB cable or in the USB port.

Yes, in the future. Cheers.

@@TechToTinker thanks👍. I think it is HX711.

Yes you are right. Thanks.

Which one?

Hi @Ho Pi, First, make sure you are using a USB data cable for ESP8266 not charging USB cable. Data cable has 4 or 5 wires inside while charging cable has 2 for the power and ground. After that, using the terminal app inside the Raspberry Pi, type lsusb and you should found [CP210x family] which is the USB for ESP8266. After that, you may need to update and upgrade your Raspberry Pi OS as follows: 1. Using the terminal type "sudo apt update" 2. Using the terminal type "sudo apt full-upgrade" This will need internet connection and will take time. After that, verify your Thonny IDE has version 3.2.6 by opening Thonny IDE, click Help menu, and select About Thonny. Now in order to use Thonny IDE in Raspberry Pi, set the MicroPython Interpreter by clicking Tools menu, select Options..., under the Interpreter tab select Micropython(ESP8266) and under select the port of ESP8266. Hope this helps you to keep going. Yours truly, - George Bantique | tech.to.tinker@gmail.com

@Cedric Eveleigh, are you able to successfully installed the driver? You might also want to try the CP210x driver that solves my problem before with USB driver problem. By the way, if your ESP32 is totally not detected by the computer: check the following: 1. Make sure that you are using a data type USB cable (not the USB cables that specifically designed for charging on). 2. Your ESP32 is damaged.

@@TechToTinker Your suggestion #1 solved my issue. I tried another cable and the Silicon Labs COM port showed up in my device manager, just like in your video. Thanks!

@@cedriceveleigh that's great. I hope to hear from you soon about your progress. Cheers

If I were you, I would learn the basics of Python syntax first then stick in using Thonny IDE. Thonny is easier and simpler to use and it works great for MicroPython. I am able to use VSCode for MicroPython before but still comes back to Thonny IDE.

Of course you can. Just save the code as main.py in your Micropython Device directory by clicking the File menu, select Save As, select MicroPython Device, save it as main.py, and finally hit OK button.

@@TechToTinker Ok yes.. Thank you.

Hello @Venkatesh, the steps is exactly the same except for step #2. You just need to download ESP8266 firmware instead.

SQL uses large chunk of resources. Even SQLLite won't fit inside MicroPython. There are other ways to achieve storing data. You can use an sd card or write it on Micropython root directory.

@@TechToTinker thank you!

@@troy5767 you are welcome. Cheers

Install first the Micropython firmware inside the ESP32. Carefully follow this video for that: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-elBtWZ_fOZU.html

@Nicola Russo, it happens to me when I flashed a program with infinite loop. Try reflashing it again with new MicroPython firmware.

​@@TechToTinker thanks for you reply. I tried reflash ESP32-cam with a previous firmware (esp32-idf4-20200902-v1.13.bin), but nothing has changed with the following interpreter settings: _______________________________________________ MicroPython (ESP32) Port or WebREPL USB-SERIAL CH340 (COM6) _______________________________________________ I tried also to change IDE using Visual Studio Code with command 'ampy --port COM6 run .\blink.py' for example, and the board seems not to respond. The only sign of life is present in Arduino IDE if I open the serial monitor: MicroPython v1.13 on 2020-09-02; ESP32 module with ESP32 Type "help()" for more information. >>> The same tests works on board ESP32. There seems to be some wrong configuration for board ESP32-cam in Thonny IDE. What do you think about this issue?

I am a Filipino (a citizen of Philippines). Cheers.

Glad you enjoyed it!