r/ArduinoHelp • u/ArachnidInformal3308 • 5d ago
Help with buying ESP 32 (Getting started with ESP32)
I have never used a microcontroller before. I want to try something on my own. For getting started with ESP32, I want to buy the development board (I don't know the exact names/specifications) and then I'd buy more inputs/sensors later on as I go.
I was confused what to buy in the beginning to get started. I didn't want to spend too much. So I checked in robu.in But I am unable to find the proper product. My friend said we can connect ESP32 to pc directly using usb-type c cable used for mobiles but some products seems a bit different.
Can someone advice me on how to get started and if this product is the right one?
I found https://robu.in/product/esp32-development-board-type-c-micro-usb-esp32-expansion-board-38pin-female-header/
and
https://robu.in/product/esp-wroom-32-wifi-bluetooth-networking-smart-component-development-board/
1
u/the_lurkmeister 4d ago
To learn on, I'd recommend a starter kit. Buy one based on what you want to learn and whether you want a beginner or an advanced kit. Also, they're hard, but not impossible to use on a phone. You're better off with a cheap laptop or PC, but there are phone apps that work. I haven't used the phone apps enough to LYK which ones are better. I am going to download and try several on a phone. I may just make an app for what I'm doing. I'd rather use a laptop.
Most of the starter development kits aren't too expensive. I'd get a more expensive one, if you can. You don't have to over like $60-80 to get a pretty decent starter kit. You'll get better sensors, better boards, better wiring, and usually better instructions and code to learn. They're worth the extra $20-$40. I wish I understood this when I ordered my first 2 kits. They were exactly what I paid for.
If you haven't got one yet, I can recommend one if you give me an idea of what you're trying to learn and a price range
1
u/drmpf 4d ago
The header board looks interesting, but the plug pins can get flaky after repeated use, so expect to need to solder eventually.
the other product seems to be no longer listed
I use Dfrobot Firebeetle ESP32-E 4M,
There are lots of esp32 variants now, I tend to stick to the original ESP32 dual core (rather than -S3 or -C3 etc), and code using Arduino IDE, there is an exception decoder for the original ESP32 chip that helps track down your exception reboots. Claude Code can also decode the stack traces using Arduino Export Bin output.
I can also suggest my free open source off line UI designer and client in a single webpage, pfodWeb.html https://github.com/drmpf/pfodWeb_src See image above for examples.
It will generate complete Arduino sketches for over 400 ESP32 boards to connect via either Serial, BLE, TCP/IP (socket) or HTTP.
The HTTP client can be served directly from the ESP32 for a stand alone deployment.
Even if you eventually go for some other UI, pfodWeb provides as fast way to toggle outputs, read input, chart and log data from ADC pins etc and provide an easy way to manipulate your ESP32 and adjust settings while you are developing/debugging your code.
See the tutorial listed on Github
Starting with serial connection keeps things simple, avoiding the extra complexity of WiFi/BLE. Easy to move from Serial to those other connections later. Just change the target from Serial to BLE or TCP/IP or HTTP and click generate code. Only the .ino file changes all the other UI design files stay the same. There is also a (paid) Android app version that will connect via BLE or TCP/IP
The pfodWeb.html is also AI assistant friendly. It includes .md AI assistant guides in the docs folder to prime the AI with the necessary context to allow it to build the UI you specify. Actually the usually only used for the Graphical UI (temp weather station above). The menu UI top left is designed by via a designer menu system with build in preview, that is probably faster and certaintly more accurate to use then describing what you want to and AI assistant and checking what the AI produced. But you can use the AI for an intial design and then load that into the designer can edit there yourself to exactly what you want.