Setup ESP32

This guide should help you set up the ESP board for programming the E-ink display with the code provided by this repo.

1. Install Arduino IDE

• Download and install the Arduino IDE (1.x is easiest for beginners) from arduino.cc.
• On Windows/macOS/Linux, just grab it and run the installer and follow the prompts and agree to install any USB driver offered.

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2. Add ESP32 & ESP8266 Boards

1. Open File -> Preferences in the Arduino IDE.

2. In Additional Boards Manager URLs add:

   https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json
   http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json
   

   (Separate each URL with a comma or newline)

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3. Install Board Packages

1. Go to Tools -> Board -> Boards Manager…

2. Search and install:

   • ESP32 by Espressif Systems
   • ESP8266 by ESP8266 Community

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4. Ensure Packages Folder Exists

• Arduino creates a folder at ~/Arduino15/packages (%APPDATA%\Arduino15\packages on Windows).
• Confirm it contains the hardware/espressif/esp32 (and potentially esp8266) folders after installation.

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5. Add Waveshare Libraries

1. Download the Waveshare demo code and libraries -> Download.
2. Locate your sketchbook folder via File -> Preferences.
3. Inside that folder, open/create libraries/.
4. Unzip and place the Waveshare .zip contents there and each library should be in its own folder.

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6. Load a Demo Sketch

1. Connect your ESP32/ESP8266-based Waveshare driver board by USB.

2. In Arduino IDE, choose your board:

   • For ESP32: Tools -> Board -> ESP32 Dev Module
   • For ESP8266: choose NodeMCU 1.0 or similar

3. Select the correct Tools -> Port.

4. Open a Waveshare example (WiFi demo sketch).

5. Click Upload.

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7. Run a Demo

• WiFi demo: modify WiFi credentials in srvr.h, upload, open Serial Monitor (115200 baud), find IP, then view the web interface in a browser on the same network.

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8. Troubleshooting Tips

• If upload fails with “Failed to connect…”, press and hold BOOT (GPIO0) button on ESP board while uploading.
• USB drivers missing -> install CP210x or CH340
• Port missing -> try a different USB cable or port
• Unstable power -> ensure USB provides a full 5 V
• Wrong board selected -> double-check Tools -> Board and Port

Summary Checklist:

Step	Action
1	Install Arduino IDE
2	Add ESP32/ESP8266 board URLs
3	Install board packages
4	Ensure packages folders exist
5	Add Waveshare libraries to libraries/
6	Choose board, port, and upload a demo
7	Run Bluetooth/WiFi demo
8	Use troubleshooting tips if needed

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