Flashing your Arduino

Programming the ESP8266 or ESP32 through the Arduino IDE:

You'll need to follow the steps here first before you can flash through the arduino IDE.

The two main basic steps to flasing the Esp8266/32 are:

1. Compile/upload arduino code by selecting the right board, COM port, and clicking upload (looks like a right arrow).

2. Flash the data directory by opening the sketch and selecting Tools -> Sketch Data Upload for your board. Make sure the Serial Monitor is not in use for the selected COM port.

Programming the ESP8266 or ESP32 through the EZ flasher:

1. You'll need to install the usb drivers for the nodeMCU boards (esp8266/32) before windows will recognize them as COM ports. You can check the device manager under the section PORTS (COM & LPT) to verify that something appears when you plug in a nodeMCU board.

2. Next, download the EZ_FLASH_NodeMCU.zip file and extract the folder inside to a place on your computer.

3. Plug your NodeMCU into your computer via usb, and as mentioned in step 1 verify that it shows up in the com list of your device manager. Make sure it is the only serial item listed under COMs, as this script will attempt to flash the first one it finds. No harm will be done to devices that are not nodeMCU's, as a specific response is expected before flashing begins.

4. Run EZ_FLASH_NodeMCU.exe, the terminal window should come up and stay up for half a minute or so, as the program flashes the nodeMCU.

5. After programming is successful, the nodeMCU will reset, and if you have any leds attached to the correct pin, they will turn on to a warm yellow default color.