Agus Kurniawan - MicroPython for ESP8266 Development Workshop

MicroPython for ESP8266 Development Workshop

Agus Kurniawan

1st Edition, 2016

Copyright 2016 Agus Kurniawan

MicroPython is a lean and efficient implementation of the Python programming language that includes a small subset of the Python standard library and is optimised to run on microcontrollers and in constrained environments.

We can deploy MicroPython on ESP8266 boards. For instance, you can deploy on these boards:

• NodeMCU, http://nodemcu.com/index_en.html
• SparkFun ESP8266 Thing, https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13231
• Adafruit HUZZAH ESP8266 Breakout, https://www.adafruit.com/product/2471
• Adafruit Feather HUZZAH with ESP8266 WiFi, https://www.adafruit.com/product/2821

NodeMCU v2 board:

SparkFun ESP8266 Thing.

Adafruit HUZZAH ESP8266 Breakout.

Adafruit Feather HUZZAH with ESP8266 WiFi.

We need electronic components to build our testing, for instance, Resistor, LED, sensor devices and etc. I recommend you can buy electronic component kit. We can use electronics kit from Arduino to be developed on MicroPython board. The following is a list of electronics kit which can be used in our case.

Store website: http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoStarterKit

Store website: http://shop.fritzing.org/ .

You can buy Fritzing Starter Kit with Arduino UNO or Fritzing Starter Kit with Arduino Mega.

Store website: http://www.cooking-hacks.com/index.php/shop/arduino/starter-kits/arduino-starter-kit.html

Store website: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/Sidekick-Basic-Kit-for-Arduino-V2-p-1858.html

You also can find this kit on this online store.

http://www.exp-tech.de/seeed-studio-sidekick-basic-kit-for-arduino-v2

Another option, you can buy this kit on Seeedstudio, http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/Grove-Starter-Kit-for-Arduino-p-1855.html .

DFRobot provides Arduino kit too. You can buy it on the following website.

http://www.dfrobot.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=35_49&product_id=345

To develop app with MicroPython target, we can use any editor. You can learn how to install it on chapter 2.

For testing, I used NodeMCU v2 and SparkFun ESP8266 Thing boards for MicroPython on Windows, Linux and Mac.

I also used Arduino Sidekick Basic kit for electronic components and some sensor and actuator devices.

This chapter explains how to work on setting up MicroPython board.

In this chapter, we learn how to get started with MicroPython board. We try to reflash the latest MicroPython firmware and then test some basic scripts. For testing, I use NodeMCU as sample for MicroPython board.

Firstly, you connect MicroPython board to PC via USB/microUSB cable. After connected, you may get lighting on blue LED, for instance for, NodeMCU board.

If you are working on Windows platform, open Device Manager, you should see NodeMCU board detected on Ports (COM & LPT) as Silicon Labs

However, if you get a problem about NodeMCU hardware driver, you update that driver. You also can install a driver from Silicon Labs because NodeMCU v2 uses this chip, from https://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/USBtoUARTBridgeVCPDrivers.aspx . Please download it based on your platform.

For instance, you download the driver for mac. Just follow instructions.

After installed, you verify it. For instance, on my OS X it has detected. Type this command.

For Linux, you can use ls /dev/tty* .

Then, you see a list of driver. This board is recognized as /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART .

If you use SparkFun ESP8266 Thing, you need additional tool such as serial USB tool to communicate with ESP8266.

In this section, we try to flash the latest MicroPython firmware. You can get the latest MicroPython firmware https://micropython.org/download#esp8266. Download *.bin file.

In this scenario, I try to flash MicroPython firmware on Windows, OSX and Linux.