ESP8266 as target chip

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ESP8266 as target chip

Post by gonzogonzo »

Hello,
having to use an ESP8266 for some jobs I asked myself why this device is not added among those available in Flowcode as a target (not as a component I know it is present) maybe included in the Arduino license or even with a separate license. I think it would make many users happy that they can't use this device to the fullest ... including me. :D

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by MJU »

Great idea, but I don't think the developers think the same. :)

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by Benj »

We hope to be supporting the ESP32 device as a target in the near future. This has a core dedicated for handling the WIFI/Bluetooth software stacks and a separate core for running your program. We have recently revisited this and made big steps forward.

The ESP8266 for us is currently better suited as a slave device though we may decide to revisit this in the future based on the popularity of the ESP32.

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by MJU »

Benj wrote:We hope to be supporting the ESP32 device as a target in the near future. This has a core dedicated for handling the WIFI/Bluetooth software stacks and a separate core for running your program. We have recently revisited this and made big steps forward.

The ESP8266 for us is currently better suited as a slave device though we may decide to revisit this in the future based on the popularity of the ESP32.
This would be a great step forward if these chips would to be supported.

Meanwhile, please look into "Annex Wifi RDS": https://sites.google.com/site/annexwifi/
Annex WI-FI RDS is a powerful scripts interpreter for the popular ESP8266 (ESP32) WI-FI module.
The module can be managed with a dedicated WEB IDE and an associated AnnexToolKit utility suite.
Annex WI-FI RDS provides the following main functionalities:
I'm playing with it right now and looks promising.

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by MJU »

Benj wrote:
Fri Feb 14, 2020 12:29 am
We hope to be supporting the ESP32 device as a target in the near future. This has a core dedicated for handling the WIFI/Bluetooth software stacks and a separate core for running your program. We have recently revisited this and made big steps forward.

The ESP8266 for us is currently better suited as a slave device though we may decide to revisit this in the future based on the popularity of the ESP32.
Any news yet?
I think the challenge for Matrix will be to get into IOT as soon as possible (with the cheap modules like the ESP32).

With the mentioned Annex toolkit (a Basic language), it's very simple to get stuff working very fast and there are already a large amount of sensors and so, that are supported.

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by stefan.erni »

Hi Gonzogozo

There are some new targets from ESP and these looks good.

I also hope that ESP Board's will become a Flowcode target in the future.
I'm especially interested in the very small board's .
But I would also be satisfied with even better support for the ESP8266 as component. I miss a (very) fast data transfer to SCADA.

Some infos about the boards....

https://www.espressif.com/en/products/devkits


ESP32-S2-KALUGA-1
ESP-WROOM-02D
ESP-WROOM-02U

https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp ... 1-kit.html


available by mouser:
https://www.mouser.ch/ProductDetail/E ... 8xxA%3D
https://www.mouser.ch/ProductDetail/E ... A%3D%3D
https://www.mouser.ch/ProductDetail/E ... A%3D%3D

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by Benj »

Hello,

Thanks for the comments, there are some great ESP32 boards available now.

I can confirm ESP32 is coming very soon (likely the next few months).

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by AbhijitR »

Hi! Ben

This is indeed a good news, I have kept fingers crossed, it is for V8. :D

Abhi

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by gonzogonzo »

Hello,
fantastic new; i am anxious to be able to use.
Just a little saddened for my old ESP8266....

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by MJU »

Benj wrote:
Wed Jul 08, 2020 10:55 am
Hello,

Thanks for the comments, there are some great ESP32 boards available now.

I can confirm ESP32 is coming very soon (likely the next few months).
Few months... july 8th... :-)
Almost now then? :-)

Can you already lift the tip of the veil a bit?
What functions we can expect? What is going to be the price of the chipset? ;-)

A release date that you can share? :-)

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by Benj »

Hello,

Currently scheduled for mid November, was originally scheduled for August and then September and now pushed back to November as a more realistic date what with everything going on. We are offering it as part of Flowcode version 9 and we are trying to make the ESP32 chip pack and associated components free to use.

Currently we are supporting the WIFI but not the Bluetooth. Is Bluetooth high on anyone's priority list at the moment?

We are aware of problems e.g. any code with tight microsecond based timings will likely have problems at the moment but we are working on this.

If anyone would like a play then please send me a PM and I'll see what I can do.

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by MJU »

Benj wrote:
Thu Sep 24, 2020 3:20 pm
Hello,

Currently scheduled for mid November
Any news yet? :-)

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by Benj »

Hello,

Release date was rescheduled for today however we had some Covid related problems where we lost some time and so we are now aiming for Monday. Fingers crossed. :D

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by MJU »

Benj wrote:
Thu Nov 26, 2020 12:44 pm
Hello,

Release date was rescheduled for today however we had some Covid related problems where we lost some time and so we are now aiming for Monday. Fingers crossed. :D
This is quite thrilling. :oops:
Could you share some information about the price and the features for this new chipset?

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by Benj »

Hello,

Were currently quite far on with support for the ESP and so the following things should hopefully work out the box.

ESP WIFI component
Network Comms Support - So things like MQTT, MODBUS TCP etc should work
ESP Bluetooth SPP Slave Component

Basic peripherals like I2C, SPI, ADC , PWM are all working

Basic IO works but high speed IO is currently a problem so components like WS2812, 1Wire etc may not work out the box. We are working on these to try and solve the issue.

The compiler is also very picky with a lot of warnings treated as errors in the default compiler settings. Rather then having users change the settings we are fixing as and when we find these types of problems. Most are minor but some will probably proove tricky.

I've had input on the commercial side of things but things like prices I have no idea on atm. Bluetooth and Wifi comms shouldn't require any component packs to function though more advanced features such as MODBUS TCP probably do.

Detailed instructions on installing the compiler are now available from here.
https://www.flowcode.co.uk/wiki/images/ ... ctions.pdf

Hope this helps explain where we are atm for release. Let me know if you have any further questions.

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by stefan.erni »

Thanks Ben.

That's good news..

Can you tell us which ESP boards are supported?

regards

Stefan

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by Benj »

Anything with an ESP32 at it's core will work but we currently have specific support for these boards.

ESP32 DEVKITv1
ESP32 T-Camera - Currently no support for the Camera module
ESP32 WROOM32
ESP32 WROVER
ESP32S
Heltec WIFI Kit 32
Lolin32 Lite
LolinD32 Pro
TTGO T Display

Other boards can be easily added on request.

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by MJU »

Benj wrote:
Fri Nov 27, 2020 5:30 pm
Anything with an ESP32 at it's core will work but we currently have specific support for these boards.

ESP32 DEVKITv1
ESP32 T-Camera - Currently no support for the Camera module
ESP32 WROOM32
ESP32 WROVER
ESP32S
Heltec WIFI Kit 32
Lolin32 Lite
LolinD32 Pro
TTGO T Display

Other boards can be easily added on request.
Looks great, the ESP8266 also supported?

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by Benj »

No plans for the ESP8266 at the moment other then as a external module. The toolchain is very different and so unfortunately it's not something that just falls out of the ESP32 work.

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by MJU »

Benj wrote:
Thu Nov 26, 2020 12:44 pm
Hello,

Release date was rescheduled for today however we had some Covid related problems where we lost some time and so we are now aiming for Monday. Fingers crossed. :D
And... it's monday :-)

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by Steve »

V9 is almost ready. We're just doing some last minute testing before a proper release.

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by MJU »

Steve wrote:
Tue Dec 01, 2020 3:29 pm
V9 is almost ready. We're just doing some last minute testing before a proper release.
Great!
Will there be a separate chipset for the E32, for Flowcode 8?

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by Steve »

MJU wrote:
Tue Dec 01, 2020 4:21 pm
Will there be a separate chipset for the E32, for Flowcode 8?
I don't think there will be, so you will have to upgrade to v9. That said, I believe the ESP chippack will be freely available to all v9 customers.

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by Benj »

Hopefully close now.

Quick vid to whet your appetite :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwVA6816VMs

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Re: ESP8266 as target chip

Post by AbhijitR »

Hi! Ben

Looks great and loaded with fantastic features, looking to buy soon.

Abhi

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