Install and Configure Arduino IDE
The core logic of this tutorial applies to all ESP32 boards, but all the operation steps are explained using the example of the Waveshare ESP32-S3-Zero mini development board. If you are using a development board of another model, please modify the corresponding settings according to the actual situation.
The Arduino IDE is an open-source development environment that supports Arduino microcontrollers and is compatible with a variety of third-party development boards, including the ESP32, allowing developers to easily write and upload code to these powerful Wi-Fi and Bluetooth integrated chips to implement IoT projects. It has rich libraries and sample code, widely used in prototype development and education fields, and is the preferred platform for beginners. This series of tutorials will use the Arduino IDE as the development environment.
1. Download and Install Arduino IDE
1. Go to Arduino official website to download the package of the Arduino IDE.
2. Run the installer to install the Arduino IDE. During installation, it is recommended to use the default settings and select an English-only path for installation.
2. Set up Arduino IDE
1. Start Arduino IDE after installation.
2. On first startup, the IDE may automatically download and install core library files and drivers. If the operating system pops up with driver installation or network security prompts, it is recommended to allow it. The output window information shown in the figure below is a prompt message for the installation process, which is a normal phenomenon and does not need to be processed.
3. The Arduino IDE displays the English interface by default, but supports switching to other languages. Click "File -> Preferences" to open the settings.
In the settings interface, find the "Language" option, select your preferred language, and then click "OK". The Arduino IDE will automatically restart and switch to the selected language interface.
4. In addition, you can also adjust the interface scale, font size, theme style, and default save location of the project in "Preferences".
3. Install ESP32 Development Board Library
To develop ESP32 using the Arduino IDE, you need to add the ESP32 board-related configurations and install the relevant libraries.
Standard installation
- Open "File" -> "Preferences", find "Additional Board Manager Address" in the Settings screen, paste the following link and click OK:
https://espressif.github.io/arduino-esp32/package_esp32_index.json
- Open the "Board Manager", search for "ESP32" and install it. After installation, restart the Arduino IDE to use it
Manual installation
- Open the
%LOCALAPPDATA%/Arduino15/packagesdirectory, check if there is an esp32 folder in that directory, and if so, delete it.
- Open "File" -> "Preferences", find "Additional Board Manager Address" in the Settings screen, paste the following link and click OK:
This is the image provided by Espressif official. Please refer to this link for details.
https://espressif.github.io/arduino-esp32/package_esp32_index.json
- Download the offline package
ESP32_Arduino offline packages download address
Download the corresponding version as needed, it is recommended to choose the latest version to download.
After downloading, double-click to extract the file.
- Copy the
esp32folder obtained in the previous step to the%LOCALAPPDATA%/Arduino15/packagesdirectory
- Reopen Arduino, go to the board manager, and confirm that the ESP32 library is installed.
4. Install Libraries (As Needed)
In the Arduino ecosystem, a "Library" is a pre-written code package designed to simplify programming for specific tasks, such as driving sensors, controlling displays, network connections, or data processing. Using libraries avoids the need to write code from scratch, allowing developers to focus on the core logic of their projects and improving development efficiency.
Depending on the source and distribution method of the library, there are several common installation methods:
Most libraries can be installed through the Arduino IDE's library manager.
1. Select "Tools > Manage Library..." in the menu bar, or click the Library Manager icon in the sidebar.
2. Enter the target library name in the search bar and the search results will be displayed in alphabetical order. You can view the library's description and author information. Once you find the library you need, click the "Install" button, and the system will install the latest version by default.
3. Wait for the installation to complete.
This method is suitable for one-time installations of folders that contain one or more libraries that we provide with the product demo package. These libraries are usually versions that have been specifically screened or adapted to ensure that the demos run stably.
1. Find the product demo package you downloaded and extracted. Typically, all required library files are stored in a single folder named libraries.
2. Copy all subfolders under the libraries folder completely to the Arduino IDE libraries folder.
The default path to the Arduino libraries folder is usually: C:\Users\<your username>\Documents\Arduino\libraries.
libraries) is located directly under that path.libraries folder doesn't exist, you can create one manually. |info}}
3. Restart the Arduino IDE to ensure that all newly installed libraries are loaded correctly.
This is a semi-automatic manual installation method, suitable for library files in .zip format downloaded from the Internet.
1. In the menu bar, select "Project > Import Library > Add .ZIP Library...".
2. In the file selection dialog that pops up, find and select the downloaded .zip library file, then click "Open".
3. The IDE will automatically decompress this file and place it in the correct library folder.
5. Arduino IDE Interface
