Getting Started with ESP32 - Step-By-Step Tutorial

This ESP32 video tutorial for absolute beginners demonstrates how to get started with NodeMCU-32S Development Board. Watch this step-by-step guide to learn how to connect ESP32 to your computer, write code in Visual Studio Code and deploy it to the microcontroller.

USB to UART Drivers:

To install clang-format:

Software used in the video:

If you don't want to hold the "BOOT" button whenever you upload your code, here's a good article with the workaround (it requires one 10uF electrolytic capacitor):

Social Media:

Thank you for watching and see you soon!

00:00 Intro
00:21 Hardware Presentation, Microcontroller vs Development Board
01:31 Important Information About Cables
02:00 To-Do List / Plan for Today
03:07 ESP32 Overview
04:26 USB to UART Driver Installation - Identifying the Bridge
05:48 Installing USB to UART Driver
07:37 Installing Visual Studio Code
08:50 Installing PlatformIO IDE
09:14 Installing and Configuring C/C++ Code Autoformatter
10:14 Creating New Project with PlatformIO
11:14 PlatformIO Project Directory Structure
12:58 Setting Up Serial Communication
14:06 Printing Out Text Over Serial
15:11 How to Blink LED Diode
17:21 How to Compile and Deploy the Code to ESP32
18:32 Displaying Printed Out Text with Serial Monitor
19:15 Development Board Reset Button
19:30 The End

[gcg]

Retired engineer, old enough to be your grandpa. Really enjoyed your tutorial. Discussing really simple steps is critical to start the learning process. :)

[originalhotrodder]

I totally agree with Jack Flash. Your method of explaining and the speed that you show us how to do the individual tasks is perfect. I've subscribed and I'm going to walk through all of your videos. Thank you for putting this together.

[sbromley]

Best beginning ESP32 tutorial on YouTube. Worked immediately on a Windows 10 laptop. Much appreciated! Now on to bigger and better projects :-)

[Dieswarthond]

Thank you so much Tomasz for this brilliant introduction to esp! Your video is very well structured and all your instructions are clear and make perfect sense. Very encouraging and I am really excited to get stuck into this now.

[technohelp]

Excellent video. Just received my ESP32 board a few minutes ago and I got it up and running with this tutorial. Thank You!!

[AjazHussain]

Bro, you're simply amazing. Probably the best getting started video for ESP32 on YouTube.

[RiverExplorerGames]

I have been programming mostly on UNIX/Linux for over 45 years. Just bought an ESP32 and ESP8266 and a starter kit. You got me up in 1 day. Already have my RiverExplorer logo showing on the OLED and connected to WiFi !! - Thanks! I have Halloween plans with an ESP and my 3D printer!

[jackflash]

I've watched several videos on how to get PlatformIO going in VSCode and this is the best of them all.
I followed along and BOOM working right out of the gate.
Nothing like hands on to get the brain cells lined up.
Thank you

[bill_automated]

I appreciate the setup video Tomasz. Keep up the great work, it was insightful.

[TinyMaths]

Thank you very much. Just started working with ESP32 for a project using multiple servos; a very helpful intro.

[mahatana_r]

Your tutorial is the most informative for new comers I found so far. Thank you.

[johneagle]

Thank you. This is a very good introductory video. I am a newcomer to ESP32 and I found it very useful.

[hellraiser-]

Thank you. Proper ESP32 for dummies start guide. Now to order the board. I'll be back!

[radu]

Thank you for making this very nice, easy and informative video it just helped me alot !!!

[mardanheddeokwa]

Thanks Tomasz, this video is just what I needed to get started. Now I can build and upload and test my code. Many thanks.

[Analyte]

Thank you very much. Great simplified video.

[davidellwood]

Great video, Im just getting started with ESP32 and this was a smashing help.

[ninto]

Thanks a lot! This was the only tutorial I could find, which actually went over the multiple types of bridges. I almost gave up before.

[PiotrSygutPL]

👍 - dzięki za tutorial ! Świetny jest ten ESP32

[corollayanki]

Thank you so much! Using this with VS code is very comfortable!