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Mohamed Ahmed
Mohamed Ahmed

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Getting Started with IoT: Your First Steps with Arduino IDE and ESP32

#iot #esp32 #beginners #tutorial

Introduction

👋 Hello, world! I’m starting this blog to share my journey into the Internet of Things (IoT) using the ESP32 microcontroller. Whether you’re a hobbyist, student, or just curious, you can follow along as we go from zero to working IoT projects—starting with setting up the Arduino IDE.d.

What You'll Need

  • A computer
  • An ESP32 development board (like the ESP32 DevKit C)
  • A USB cable (typically Micro-USB or USB-C, depending on your board)

STEP 1: Installing the Arduino IDE

The Arduino IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is where we will write our code, compile it, and upload it to the ESP32.

  1. Download the IDE: Go to the official Arduino Software page. Avoid the "Web Editor" for now; we want the IDE. Download the version for your operating system.
  2. Run the Installer:
  • Windows: Run the downloaded .exe file. It's recommended to let it install the necessary drivers.

3.Open the Arduino IDE: Once installed, open the application. You should see a clean, mostly empty window. This is your coding canvas!

Your IDE should look like this

STEP 2: Configuring the IDE for ESP32

The Arduino IDE doesn’t support ESP32 boards out of the box. To add support:

  1. Open Preferences: Go to File > Preferences.
    Your IDE should look like this

  2. Add the ESP32 Board Manager URL: In the "Additional Boards Manager URLs" field, paste the following URL:

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Your IDE should look like this
If you already have other URLs, separate them with a comma(,).

3.Open Boards Manager: Go to Tools > Board > Boards Manager

Your IDE should look like this
4.Install ESP32 Support: In the search bar, type "esp32". You should see an entry by "Espressif Systems". Click on it and press the "Install" button.

This will take a few minutes. Once it's done, you'll see "INSTALLED" next to the package.

STEP 3: Selecting Your Board and Port

Now that the software is installed, let's connect the hardware.

Connect your ESP32: Plug your ESP32 board into your computer using the USB cable.

Select Your Board: Go to Tools > Board. You should now see a new section for "ESP32 Arduino". Scroll through it and select your specific board. If you're using a common ESP32 Dev Module, you can select that.

Your IDE should look like this

Select the Port: Go to Tools > Port.
It will be something like COM3 or COM4.
but am using Port COM7

Your IDE should look like this

If the port is grayed out or you don't see it, your computer might not have the correct drivers. A quick web search should lead you to the solution.

Congratulations!

What's Next?
In the next post, we'll upload a simple code to verify everything is working. We'll use the classic "Blink". Get ready to make your hardware interact with you!

What’s the first project you’d love to try with your ESP32? Drop your ideas in the comments—I’d love to hear them!

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