Kick-Start to MicroPython using ESP32 / ESP8266

Getting a microcontroller to respond to a line of code is a satisfying first step into embedded programming. Kick-Start to MicroPython using ESP32 / ESP8266 by Harish Kondoor lays out a guided path from setting up the software to working with board inputs, sensors, and Wi-Fi.

Start with the tools, then put Python to work 💻

The opening modules introduce MicroPython and walk through installing Python 3 and Thonny IDE before moving on to firmware for the ESP32. A focused Python syntax recap covers familiar building blocks such as printing, input, conditions, loops, and functions—useful grounding before those ideas meet hardware.

Make the board respond

GPIO examples bring code into the physical world, beginning with an LED and extending to analog input and capacitive touch. The book also introduces readings from a DHT11 temperature-and-humidity sensor and the ESP32’s internal temperature and Hall-effect sensors, along with a section on multithreading.

Take a first step toward connected projects

The closing module turns to Wi-Fi, including automatic connection and retrieving weather data through the OpenWeatherMap API. Together, the examples connect basic programming concepts with common microcontroller tasks, offering a clear sequence to follow as you explore the ESP32 and ESP8266.

A practical starting point for makers

The course assumes some basic electronics knowledge and centers its software walkthroughs on Windows 10; it also notes that macOS and Linux are supported when Python 3 and Thonny IDE are installed. For electronics learners, students, and hobbyists ready to try MicroPython on real boards, Kondoor’s module-by-module approach keeps the focus on getting set up and experimenting.