How to decrease FW size to keep Web Update on ESP8266

[luc-github]

ESP3D size yes is growing and growing and with coming notifications feature and others it won't fit the necessary space for small file system and web update.
How to keep web update and keep notifications and others nice features ?
@d-a-v (David) gave me a great tips to save some space, thank you man 😸

On ESP8266 4M flash boards

• change partition size from 1M flash/3M Filesystem to 2M flash/2M Filesystem
  This, on esp core 2.5.2, allows to use Web Update and bigger Firmware (still limited to 1M)
  once done reflash and format FS and reupload index.html.gz, I was not aware ot it but it works.

Once flash with new partition is done, need to format new filesystem : [ESP710]FORMAT

What about 1M Flash board ?

Do not worry there is another tricks before compiling and flashing ESP3D:

• remove printf float support - currently not used

  • go to your ESP8266 core directory to disable float support
  • type python ./tools/boards.txt.py --nofloat --allgen
    be noted this may affect your others ESP sketchs if you disable float support

• select in debug mode of IDE : NoAssert-NDEBUG
  

After done these operations you can compile and flash ESP3D, this will save several KB

What about old 512KB ESP01 ? And I still want OTA 😈

Well, the only solution is to upgrade to 4MB, SPI flash has 8 pins and can be done using a soldering station - I won't say it is easy but it is feasible, check this video :

FYI I did it and I am bad soldering guy (bad eyes - big fingers) but do it at your own risks

I had 5 module 512KB, 3 modules were reworked properly, 1 without success but did not check it was working before, one I damaged one pad when unsoldering original flash so cannot solder a new one( so be gentle when unsolder, do not over heat )

[luc-github]

Update: since ESP8266 release 2.7.1 the update can handle compressed binary the binary is installed at next boot so it will need 2 reboots, these reboots are automatics

• For 1MB flash I recommend FS:144KB max which give OTA 430KB, if this is not what you have in use you will need to reupload the index.html.gz after update and use the single language package

• If your current FW is not using the EP8266 2.7.1 core you need to install a small FW first to allow compressed update -

  • for this in config.h uncomment :
    //#define USE_AS_UPDATER_ONLY
  • Generate a binary to update your FW, the size should be around 350KB
  • Update your FW with the updater binary

• Now generate a normal binary with options you need, do not enable options you do not need to save space (be sure #define USE_AS_UPDATER_ONLY is commented)

• Rename the binary to update.bin and compress it with the following command (you need gzip on your PC)
  gzip -9 update.bin

• Update the ESP by selecting the new update.bin.gz

and voila... you should have updated your ESP01S
for next update you do not need to use intermediate FW as you already use the ESP8266 core 2.7.1

Thanks @d-a-v for the suggestion ^_^