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Getting Started with ESP32

The ESP32 is a powerful, low-cost microcontroller with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, making it perfect for IoT projects.

Why ESP32?​

  • WiFi & Bluetooth - Built-in wireless connectivity
  • Dual-core processor - 240 MHz performance
  • Low power - Deep sleep modes for battery projects
  • Rich peripherals - GPIO, ADC, DAC, I2C, SPI, UART
  • Affordable - ~$5-10 per board

Hardware Options​

Development Boards​

  • ESP32-DevKitC - Standard development board
  • ESP32-S3 - Enhanced AI/ML capabilities
  • ESP32-C3 - RISC-V based, low power
  • ESP32 DevKit board
  • Breadboard
  • Jumper wires
  • USB cable
  • LED + resistors
  • DHT22 temperature sensor

Development Environment​

Option 1: Arduino IDE​

Best for beginners

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  Serial.println("Hello ESP32!");
}

void loop() {
  // Your code here
}

Option 2: PlatformIO​

Professional development environment with better dependency management.

Option 3: ESP-IDF​

Official Espressif framework for advanced users.

#define LED_PIN 2

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

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

Next Steps​

  • Connect to WiFi
  • Send data via MQTT
  • Connect to AWS IoT Core

This guide is part of the Edge Devices Guides series.