Install esptool/thonny on Ubuntu 20.04, to flash MicroPython firmware for ESP32.

Since Thonny 3.2, MicroPython is supported officially (details). Now you can use Thonny as MicroPython IDE, including install MicroPython firmware on device.

This video show how to install Thonny and esptool on Ubuntu 20.04, to flash MicroPython firmware for ESP32.

Basically, install with command:

$ sudo apt install python3-pip

$ pip3 install esptool

$ sudo pip3 install thonny

$ sudo apt install python3-tk

Download microPython firmware for SP32:

Visit https://micropython.org/download/esp32/.

esp32-idf3-20200805-unstable-v1.12-663-g9883d8e81.bin is used here.

Also add permission to user to access the USB port:

$ sudo usermod -a -G dialout <user>

$ sudo chmod a+rw <port>

Run Thonny:

$ thonny

Select MicroPython for ESP32:

Tools > Options... > Interpreter > (or Run > Select interpreter)

> Select MicroPython (ESP32) from the drop-down list.

My first MicroPython script run on ESP32:

from machine import Pin
from time import sleep
led = Pin(2, Pin.OUT)
while True:
  led.value(1)
  sleep(0.4)
  led.value(0)
  sleep(0.4)
  led.value(1)
  sleep(0.4)
  led.value(0)
  sleep(0.4)
  led.value(1)
  sleep(0.4)
  led.value(0)
  sleep(2.0)

Useful links:

~ MicroPython documentation

~ Quick MicroPython reference for the ESP32

Related:

~ Thonny/esptool on Raspberry Pi, to develop ESP32 using MicroPython.

~ Modified MicroPython pyboard PYBv1.1 - Getting pyboard MicroPython REPL using Thonny, on Ubuntu 20.04

More ESP32/MicroPython exercises:

~ Get system info

~ Simple web server

~ Digital Input/Output

~ micropython.mem_info() to get memory information