Best Tools for ESP32 and ESP8266: What Every Maker Should Have

ESP boards are the workhorses of the DIY IoT world. Whether you're building a WiFi-connected sensor, a Bluetooth remote, or a full smart home device, the ESP32 and ESP8266 give you wireless connectivity at a price that's hard to argue with. But getting the most out of these little boards means having the right tools at your side.

Here's what's actually worth your time and money when working with ESP.

PlatformIO (Inside VS Code)

The Arduino IDE works fine for ESP development, but PlatformIO is where things get serious. Running as an extension inside Visual Studio Code, PlatformIO handles board configurations, library management, and multi-board projects much more cleanly than the Arduino IDE.

The real win is the build system. PlatformIO compiles faster, catches errors better, and lets you switch between ESP32, ESP8266, and other boards without reconfiguring everything. If you're doing any real development beyond blinking an LED, this is the setup to use.

ESP-IDF (For When You Need Full Control)

The ESP-IDF (Espressif IoT Development Framework) is the official development framework from Espressif, the company behind the ESP chips. It gives you access to everything the hardware can do, including FreeRTOS, low-power modes, advanced WiFi configuration, and Bluetooth stacks.

It's more complex than writing Arduino-style sketches, but if your project demands performance or needs to squeeze every drop of battery life, ESP-IDF is the professional's tool. The documentation has improved a lot over the years and there's a growing library of examples.

ESPHome

If you want to build smart home sensors and devices without writing much code, ESPHome is brilliant. You define your device's behavior in a YAML configuration file, flash it to your ESP board, and it integrates directly with Home Assistant.

It handles OTA updates, sensor configurations, automations, and even display drivers. For anyone building ESP-based smart home gadgets, ESPHome eliminates so much boilerplate that it almost feels like cheating.

USB to Serial Adapter (FTDI or CP2102)

Some ESP boards have USB built in, but many of the smaller or cheaper modules don't. A USB to serial adapter based on the CP2102 or FTDI FT232 chip is essential for flashing firmware and reading debug output from these boards.

Make sure you get one that supports 3.3V logic. The ESP chips run at 3.3V and feeding them 5V through a serial adapter can damage them. Most adapters have a jumper or switch to select between voltages.

ESPTool

ESPTool is Espressif's command-line utility for flashing firmware, reading flash contents, and managing ESP chip memory. It comes bundled with both PlatformIO and ESP-IDF, but it's also useful as a standalone tool. When you need to flash a specific binary, erase flash completely, or read the chip's MAC address, esptool is the go-to.

MQTT Broker (Mosquitto)

MQTT is the standard messaging protocol for IoT, and the ESP32/ESP8266 are natural MQTT devices. Running a Mosquitto broker on a Raspberry Pi or any server on your network gives your ESP devices a lightweight way to communicate with each other and with your smart home system.

MQTT Explorer is a helpful desktop app for debugging MQTT messages. It lets you see every topic and payload flowing through your broker in real time, which is invaluable when you're figuring out why a sensor reading isn't showing up.

Multimeter and Logic Analyzer

Working with ESP boards means working with I2C sensors, SPI displays, and serial communication. A multimeter handles basic voltage and continuity checks, while a logic analyzer lets you see what's actually happening on the data lines.

The cheap 8-channel USB logic analyzers work fine with Sigrok PulseView, and they'll decode I2C, SPI, UART, and other protocols for you. When a sensor isn't responding, being able to see if the clock and data lines are even active saves enormous amounts of time.

Breadboards and Dupont Wires

ESP development boards come in different form factors. The ESP32 DevKit fits neatly into a breadboard (though it leaves you with barely any exposed holes on either side). Keep a variety of dupont jumper wires around, and consider getting a wider breadboard or two standard ones placed side by side for more room.

LiPo Battery and Charging Module

Many ESP projects end up battery-powered. A TP4056 charging module paired with a 3.7V LiPo battery is the standard setup for portable ESP builds. The ESP32 has deep sleep modes that can stretch a battery for months if you're just waking up to take a sensor reading every few minutes.

Make sure to use a voltage regulator if you're feeding battery power directly to the board. The ESP32 can handle a range of input voltages on its VIN pin, but staying within spec keeps things reliable.

Tasmota (For Quick Smart Home Firmware)

Tasmota is pre-built firmware for ESP devices that gives you a web-based configuration interface, MQTT support, and compatibility with a huge range of sensors and relays. If you don't need custom code and just want a device that talks MQTT or works with Home Assistant, flashing Tasmota is often the fastest path.

It's especially popular for flashing off-the-shelf smart plugs and switches that happen to use ESP chips internally.

3D Printer (For Enclosures)

This one's optional but worth mentioning. If you're building ESP-based devices that live around your house, a 3D printer lets you make custom enclosures that actually look presentable. Thingiverse and Printables have thousands of free enclosure designs for common ESP boards and sensors.

The Bottom Line

ESP boards punch way above their weight class, and with the right tools, they can power everything from simple sensors to complex connected devices. Start with PlatformIO, a multimeter, and a breadboard. Add ESPHome or Tasmota if you're going the smart home route. Everything else, pick up as your projects demand it.

The ESP ecosystem moves fast, so the best tool is often the one the community is rallying behind this month. Stay curious and keep building.