ESP8266 Micropython MQtt Node Red Training Session

Placeholder for a proposed ESP8266 Micropython Tutorial

Q What would such a tutorial involve? Thoughts.

Overview

• background to Micropython
• detail on requirements (ram/flash/hardware)
• supported platforms / who's using it
• details on ESP8266 specifics for this tutorial

Installing Micropython on a board (ESP8266)

• how to obtain a binary
• which tools to use to flash binary on Windows / Linux (esptool.py etc.)
• how to put the hardware into boot mode
• connecting up the serial port / using a terminal emulator and anybaud to view boot-mode output text
• troubleshooting: checksum failures, baud rates, programming modes, verify option
• checking that micropython boots

Connecting the ESP8266 to a WiFi access point

• script to automatically connect as a client.
• use of AP mode.
• use of WebRepl to access over WiFi.

Development environments and transferring scripts

• options for different IDEs
• use of PyMakr to connect to board, debug and transfer files

Real world example Temperature sensor + MQtt messaging + node-red

• connecting up a one-wire DS18B20 temperature sensor
• scripting: reading temperature values
• scripting: sending values to a MQtt broker

Node-Red

• configuration of an MQtt endpoint and workflow with Node-Red
• publishing temperature values to Twitter

Data Visualisation

• configuration of MQtt broker with websockets
• data visualisation using FreeBoard (Javascript) pulling data from broker

Advanced: Building and Customising Micropython

• use of esp-open-sdk for native ESP8266 builds
• need to program a set of default values into the
• following Micropython instructions for build with docker+vagrant
• adding a demonstration module
• flashing to board and testing new module function