let's try using micropython! to get started: 1 flash ESP with Micropython firmware 2 attach to the serial monitor with a terminal emulator 3 write a program a using the REPL b using the webREPL c uploading a file links/see also https://blog.alifeee.co.uk/notes/testing-micropython-on-an-esp-8266-d1-mini/ https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/ quickref for ESP https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/esp8266/quickref.html install guide for ESP https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/esp8266/tutorial/intro.html Thonny https://thonny.org/ 1 flash ESP with Micropython firmware EITHER https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/esp8266/tutorial/intro.html#intro download from https://micropython.org/download/ESP8266_GENERIC/ run something like (see docs above) esptool.py --port /dev/ttyUSB0 erase_flash esptool.py --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --baud 460800 write_flash --flash_size=detect 0 esp8266-20170108-v1.8.7.bin OR use Thonny https://thonny.org/ https://randomnerdtutorials.com/getting-started-thonny-micropython-python-ide-esp32-esp8266/ 2 attach to the serial monitor with a terminal emulator for linux you could use https://github.com/yshui/picom picocom /dev/ttyUSB0 -b115200 for windows/etc, you can search the web for "terminal emulator" or use something like https://www.putty.org/ OR use Thonny https://thonny.org/ https://randomnerdtutorials.com/getting-started-thonny-micropython-python-ide-esp32-esp8266/ 3 write a program a. using the REPL turn on/off the onboard LED >>> from machine import Pin >>> p = Pin(2, Pin.OUT) >>> p.off() >>> p.on() turn on the WiFi and connect to a network >>> import network >>> wlan = network.WLAN(network.WLAN.IF_STA) >>> wlan.active(True) >>> wlan.scan() >>> wlan.isconnected() >>> # wait a >>> wlan.connect("SHHWifi", "TheWoodsAreColdDarkAndDeep") bit >>> wlan.isconnected() >>> wlan.status() # see list of statuses on https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/library/network.WLAN.html >>> wlan.config("ssid") # check SSID >>> # or use function from https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/esp8266/quickref.html#networking webrepl >>> import webrepl_setup >>> print(f"http://{wlan.ifconfig()[0]}:8266") c. uploading a file use Thonny to save a file called "main.py", which will run every time the microcontroller resets. potential projects: - flash LED - turn on webserial - ESP which hosts hotspot to receive WiFi credentials https://github.com/simonprickett/phewap - make push button do something - connect to environment monitor