Hello Raspberry Pi: Install MicroPython on ESP32 using Thonny Python IDE, on Raspberry Pi.

Monday, February 22, 2021

Install MicroPython on ESP32 using Thonny Python IDE, on Raspberry Pi.

Steps to install MicroPython firmware on ESP32 (ESP32-DevKitC V4, with ESP32-WROVER-E) using Thonny Python IDE, on Raspberry Pi/Raspberry Pi OS(32-bit). Include install esptool plug-ins.

Visit http://micropython.org/download/, scroll down to select Generic ESP32 module.
Download firmware (.bin) using either ESP-IDF v3.x or v4.x.

There are various daily firmware for ESP32-based boards, with separate firmware for boards with and without external SPIRAM, using either ESP-IDF v3.x or v4.x.

Non-SPIRAM firmware will work on any board, whereas SPIRAM enabled firmware will only work on boards with 4MiB of external pSRAM.

And currently,
Firmware built with ESP-IDF v4.x, with support for BLE and PPP, but no LAN.
Firmware built with ESP-IDF v3.x, with support for BLE, LAN and PPP. MicroPython v1.14 was the last version to support ESP-IDF v3.x.

If in doubt use v4.x.

Run Thonny

Run in Raspberry Pi OS Start Menu:
> programming > Thonny Python IDE

Install esptool plus-ins:

In Thonny menu:
> Tools > Manager plug-ins...
Search and install esptool

Install MicroPython firmware:

In Thonny menu:
> Run > Select Interpreter...

Select MicroPython (ESP32) from the interpreter or device drop-down box.
Click Install or Update firmware.

Select the USB port connected to ESP32.
Browse to load firmware.
Click Install.

Once Done, MicroPython installed on ESP32.

Example:

upyESP32_scan.py, example to scan available WiFi networks.

import uos
import network

print("----- MicroPython -----")
for u in uos.uname():
    print(u)
print("-----------------------")

sta_if = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)
print(sta_if)
sta_if.active(True)
for ap in sta_if.scan():
    print(ap)

upyESP32_connect.py, example to connect WiFi network.

import uos
import network

print("----- MicroPython -----")
for u in uos.uname():
    print(u)
print("-----------------------")

def do_connect():
    sta_if = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)
    if not sta_if.isconnected():
        print('connecting to network...')
        sta_if.active(True)
        sta_if.connect('ssid', 'password')
        while not sta_if.isconnected():
            pass
    print('network config:', sta_if.ifconfig())
    
do_connect()