Installing Micro-Python on NodeMCU

MicroPython is a lightweight version of the popular Python programming language that can be run on microcontrollers, such as the NodeMCU. Installing MicroPython on your NodeMCU can give you the ability to create simple programs that can control sensors, lights, and other devices. It’s also the controller I used building the wise chameleon hackster project

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to install MicroPython on your NodeMCU:

Step 1: Download the MicroPython firmware

The first thing you need to do is to download the MicroPython firmware that is compatible with the NodeMCU. You can download the firmware from here. The NodeMCU board runs the ESP8266 chip, so that is the version of micropython that you want.

Step 2: Flash the firmware onto the NodeMCU

After you have downloaded the MicroPython firmware, you need to flash it onto the NodeMCU. To do this, you need to connect your NodeMCU to your computer using a USB cable.

Then, you need to download a flashing tool, such as esptool. You can install esptool using pip, which is the Python package installer. Open your terminal or command prompt and enter the following command:

pip install esptool

After installing esptool, you can use it to flash the firmware onto the NodeMCU. To do this, enter the following command:

esptool.py --port /dev/ttyUSB0 write_flash 0x00000 path/to/firmware.bin

Replace “/dev/ttyUSB0” with the name of the serial port that your NodeMCU is connected to. Replace “path/to/firmware.bin” with the path to the MicroPython firmware that you downloaded in step 1.

Step 3: Connect to the NodeMCU

After flashing the firmware onto the NodeMCU, you can connect to it using a serial connection. To do this, you need to open a serial terminal program, such as PuTTY or TeraTerm. Set the serial port to the same port that you used in step 2 (e.g. “/dev/ttyUSB0”) and set the baud rate to 115200.

Once you have connected to the NodeMCU, you should see a MicroPython prompt. Your now in a REPL and can run your python code directly to try things out quickly.

Step 4: Upload your code

Once you have installed MicroPython on your NodeMCU and connected to it, you can start writing and uploading your own Python code.

To upload your code, you need to create a Python file and save it to your computer. Then, you can use a tool such as ampy to upload the file to the NodeMCU. Ampy is a tool that allows you to interact with the file system on the NodeMCU.

To install ampy, enter the following command in your terminal or command prompt:

pip install adafruit-ampy

After installing ampy, you can use it to upload your code to the NodeMCU. To do this, enter the following command:

ampy --port /dev/ttyUSB0 put path/to/code.py

Replace “/dev/ttyUSB0” with the name of the serial port that your NodeMCU is connected to. Replace “path/to/code.py” with the path to the Python file that you want to upload.

Conclusion

In this article, we have shown you how to install MicroPython on your NodeMCU and how to upload your own Python code. With these tools, you can create simple programs to control sensors, lights, and other devices connected to your NodeMCU. Good luck and have fun!