How to setup your development environment

Configure basic tools needed

Arduino IDE

First install the Arduino IDE (NOT the Arduino Web Editor):

https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

ESP32 core

Now you need to instal Arduino ESP32 core. Use the following instructions depending on your operating system:

• Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSUSE
• Mac
• Windows

Optional: Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio code

https://code.visualstudio.com/download

You can use Visual Studio Code in combination with Arduino to write your firmware on VS Code:

• Open it, go to the Marketplace, search for Arduino and install the extension from Microsoft.
• Open user settings and configure the path to the installed Arduino IDE and the arduino starter (see https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode-arduino)

My settings are:

"arduino.path": "/home/rac/Downloads/electronics/arduino-1.8.5",
"arduino.commandPath": "arduino"
"C_Cpp.intelliSenseEngine": "Tag Parser"

arduino.json:

    {
        "sketch": "buttonWithInterrupt.ino",
        "output": "build",
        "board": "espressif:esp32:nina_w10",
        "configuration": "UploadSpeed=921600",
        "port": "/dev/ttyUSB0"
    }

c_cpp_properties.json:

{
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "Linux",
            "includePath": [
                "${workspaceRoot}",
                "/home/rac/Arduino/hardware/espressif/esp32/cores/esp32",
                "/home/rac/Arduino/hardware/espressif/esp32/libraries",
                "/home/rac/Downloads/electronics/arduino-1.8.5/hardware/tools",
                "/home/rac/Downloads/electronics/arduino-1.8.5/libraries",
                "/home/rac/Documents/Arduino/hardware/tools",
                "/home/rac/Documents/Arduino/libraries"
            ],
            "browse": {
                "path": [
                    "${workspaceRoot}",
                    "/home/rac/Arduino/hardware/espressif/esp32/cores/esp32",
                    "/home/rac/Arduino/hardware/espressif/esp32/libraries",
                    "/home/rac/Downloads/electronics/arduino-1.8.5/hardware/tools",
                    "/home/rac/Downloads/electronics/arduino-1.8.5/libraries",
                    "/home/rac/Documents/Arduino/hardware/tools",
                    "/home/rac/Documents/Arduino/libraries"
                ],
                "limitSymbolsToIncludedHeaders": false
            },
            "intelliSenseMode": "clang-x64",
            "cStandard": "c11",
            "cppStandard": "c++17"
        }
    ],
    "version": 4
}

Pinout diagram

It is always useful to keep the pinout diagram at hand for reference:

Code examples

There are a couple code examples which where created during firmware development of the badge. Some will work standalone on any ESP32 but might need some changes, they are only tested on the MakeZurich 2018 Badge.

You can find them @ https://github.com/rac2030/IoT-conference-badge/tree/master/firmware/examples

Hello NINA World

Now let's test our setup with the Hello World of ESPs, the WiFi Scan.

• Connect an FTDI programmer to NINA breakout (see pinout for reference on how to connect, but standard FTDI header is 1-to-1 match to the breakout header).
• Plug the FTDI programmer board to your computer.
• Open Arduino IDE.
• Open the menu Tools > Board, and select the u-blox NINA-W10 series (ESP32).
• Open the menu Tools > Port, and select the one your board is connected to.
• Leave Tools > Upload speed should stay at default value (921600).
• Leave Tools > Programmer with the default (AVRISP mkII).
• Open the example code: go to File > Examples for u-blox NINA-W10 series (ESP32) > WiFi > WiFi Scan.
• Click Upload.
• While the IDE is connecting to the board (Connecting........_____....._____.), press and hold BOOT and press RESET once (while still holding BOOT depressed).
• Wait until the IDE says Done uploading.
• Open the Serial Monitor and select speed of 115200 baud in the status bar.
• Press the RESET button on your NINA breakout.
• Behold the wonders of modern world unfold in front of your eyes in the form of the wifi names of all your neighbours' networks.
• Do a little dance. 👯