Skip to content

PREP.md

Latest commit

 

History

History
69 lines (41 loc) · 3.92 KB

PREP.md

File metadata and controls

69 lines (41 loc) · 3.92 KB

Preparing for the Make Event

Makers that are well prepared get the most out of their experience. Before you attend your Make Day, there are a couple of activities to complete. Please walk through the steps below and make sure to have a working system before the actual Make session starts. It should only take about 15 minutes!

Step 1 - Arduino IDE

Download and install the Arduino IDE. Alternatively you can use Micropython

Step 2 - Set up your system

We will begin by installing the ESP8266 (that thingy in your box with the micro-USB port) support for the Arduino IDE:

  • Open the Arduino IDE
  • Go to Files (for Windows) or Arduino (for Mac) > Preferences
  • Copy this: http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json
  • Paste it in the 'Additional Boards Managers URLs' field
  • Click OK and close the preferences window
  • Go to Tools > Board > Boards Manager...
  • Navigate to esp8266 by esp8266 community and install the software for Arduino.

Step 3 - Connect your ESP8266

Now it's time to plug the ESP8266 board in your computer, and see how to blink an LED (the Hello World in the electronics):

  • Navigate to Tools > ESP8266 Boards (2.7.4) > NodeMCU 1.0 (ESP-12E Module)
  • Select the right USB port from Tools > Port
  • Clone (or download, or simply copy-paste to your Arduino IDE window) the BlinkESP code and run it in Arduino IDE by clicking 'Upload'.
  • After compiling and uploading, the LED on your ESP8266 board should start flashing. You did it!

Big Sur compatability issue:

If you're getting this issue pyserial or esptool directories not found next to this upload.py tool when uploading your sketch on Big Sur, click here for the work around.

seven

Troubleshooting

All project troubleshooting is here https://github.com/OfferZen-Make/plant_tech_ams/wiki

Step 4 - Take a photo of your setup and share it!

Please help us spread the word about Make events so that we can grow the community and keep helping devs learn new tech 🚀 💦 🌱.

Share photo on Twitter

  1. Take a photo of your set up
  2. Click here to 📸 -> Share on Twitter with a message

&& / || Share photo on LinkedIn

If you don't have Twitter you can share it on LinkedIn. Steps:

  • Copy this message: I'm setup and ready to go for my #offerzenmake event with @offerzen! .
  • Upload a photo of your setup and the message above to LinkedIn.

Fabulous example

Here's a fabulous example from @hendrikdelarey

If you don't do social media...

And if you abhor all social medias and don't do any of that then please share it on the #project-arduino-plant channel in Slack 😂 Thank you, it really helps to keep the lights on 💡. See you soon <3

Step 5 - Chart a course for self-watering plant mastery

Read through the Plant Tech readme including project extensions, community contributions and useful resources to get an idea for where you want to take your self-watering plant project on the evening of the event.

Please edit or add to the docs as you go!