let's get started. and i am already lost

[devinthedark]

as the tittle imply i am very new to the esp32.

a long time ago i was heavy into using ardunos for projects. i know how to code an arduno. made an nrf24 powered RC "tank" with a working nerf missile turret. i have made an MP3 player out of an arduno. so yes i can totally load up arduno IDE whip up a program and toss it on. well kinda i don't have any ardunos to load software onto. a few years ago i lost all my development stuff (cables computer dev boards all of it) so i am basically starting from scratch(my iron is still in the box) however i have returned to making stuff with a goal in mind. i already have a few projects they i have been laying out the pen and paper for and now comes the time to break out the bread boards.

i have never used an esp32 however from all i have learned about them they will be serving projects better then an arduno. which means it is time to learn. before i unwrap the esp32s however i need to figure out how to actually prepare my computer with the necessary software to write programs for the esp32. i tryed looking around for a guide and feel blind because i cant even find the IDE, or i have found it and know so little about esp32s that i didn't recognize it.

my programing teacher always said "first you begin with a question then you find the answer" except i have realized i don't know enough about the esp32 to know the question.


my first goal is to get everything onto my laptop that i need whip up a simple program to make a few LEDs blink throw it on the bread board and get it to make the LEDs blink. this goal will yield me everything i need to test the board and get me a starting point.

i did find a few things but i found the information too confusing compared to what i know for example i found something called ESP-IDF and an IDE that goes with it but i have no clue what that is yet. it seems too advanced for my current stage but again i could be totaly wrong and that IDF stuff is exactly what i am looking for.

i will happily take links to reading materials that provide the information i am looking for as at the end of the day the reading materials is what i am looking for.

i have a feeling i have already looked at what i am looking for i just didn't recognize it cause i don't know enough or i didn't read far enough in.

[Sprite]

If you're used to Arduino, you can still use it on ESP32 chips, we support that. Our official docs on this are here. I'd suggest you try that first, then you can always branch out to ESP-IDF if you need or want to do that.

[devinthedark]

thank you. that was actually kinda helpful. i will be honest i didn't think that was what i was after however like a good little leaner i am trying it cause you suggested it. i still don't know if it is the IDE i need. then again from what you said it seems that it will be with a side of needing to work my way into the IDF stuff to get my end results.

however i have run into an issue in testing.

this is the sketch

Code: Select all

void setup() {
  pinMode(2, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  digitalWrite(2, HIGH); 
  delay(1000);
  digitalWrite(2, LOW);
  delay(1000);
}

as you can see it is a dreadfully simple sketch just to prove the board works.

and this is the log

Code: Select all

Sketch uses 271284 bytes (20%) of program storage space. Maximum is 1310720 bytes.
Global variables use 22076 bytes (6%) of dynamic memory, leaving 305604 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 327680 bytes.
esptool v5.3.0
Serial port COM3:

A fatal error occurred: Could not open COM3, the port is busy or doesn't exist.
(could not open port 'COM3': FileNotFoundError(2, 'The system cannot find the file specified.', None, 2))

Hint: Check if the port is correct and ESP connected

Failed uploading: uploading error: exit status 2

i was able to get the sketch to load onto an arduino nano but the error happens any time i try the esp. i know the cable is fine as it is giving the do doot you get when you connect a device when i plug in the esp. i can use the cord to connect a ps4 controller to the computer(BT turned off for the test so it could not possible use it) but any time i try to upload to the esp i get that error and when i plug it in i don't even get a serial port so even if i had a sketch on there that used serial i couldn't even access that on it. i have been trouble shooting it all day and hit a wall.

[Sprite]

What hardware (devkit type, ...) do you have?

You might need to force the ESP32 into download mode the first time. If your board has the buttons, try (when it's plugged in) holding the BOOT button, pressing and releasing the RESET button, then releasing the BOOT button. That should give you a serial port for flashing, regardless of what state the ESP32 board was in before. (Note that normally you wouldn't have to do that, you can just reprogram the board without pressing anything)

Alternatively, if you're using the original ESP32 (no -C3, -S3 or anything), you might need to install a driver for whatever USB-to-serial chip is on the board in order for the serial port to show up.

[devinthedark]

no joy. holding the boot button and the EN button press didn't get me a port.

i do remember in the reviews for the boards i got alot of complaining about efuses being set in defaults for security and needing to encrypt the sketch or do something about an efuse. the reviews were not exactly clear on it but it was one of the selling points of being able to lock the board so that not just anyone could mess with it. however i get the feeling to fiddle with the efuses i need a serial interface. i mention this cause it might trigger a thought or my assumptions could be wrong and it is a efuse causing the current issue. experts would know better then me so put it out there so they are aware and see what comes.

i have never really installed extra "open drivers" (i hardly understand how to navigate github and i know i am definitely going to need to learn more there for my coming projects. that said i have no idea what drivers would be needed where to find them or how to install them. attached is one of the only 2 files of documentation i got with the board and i had to pull them from the selling page. one is the pin out and the other is attached. it provides all the information that could be gathered if i photographed it but perfectly crisp and in focus.

also thank you for all your help so far sprite

edit because i didn't notice it till i tryed repeating the process over and over thinking maybe i did something wrong in the process. pushing and holding boot then hitting the en button does "something" on the computer i can get the cursor to show it computer is trying to do something on command by holding boot and pressing en.

[Sprite]

That's a CP2102 USB-to-UART chip... could try this and see if it works then.