While I wait for parts to arrive, I am setting up the programming environment for the ESP8266 API.
I started by downloading the recommended virtual machine for VirtualBox. I got it running and had to do some reconfiguring for my linux system. It was configured for running under Windows. I want one folder that will be shared between my main system and the virtual machine. I ran into several issues getting this to work, but it is finally working. I think most of my problems came from my poor understanding of VirtualBox.
I did have one issue where the VirtualBoxAdditions did not install where it was expected. I found it under /opt/VBoxGuestAdditions-4.3.10/ using the locate utility in linux. I was specifically having trouble using the mount.vboxsf utility.
I found a “getting started” guide on Espressif’s bbs website here. It was mostly correct but had a few missing details, I will probably understand those details as I start digging into the API.
I want Eclipse as my software development environment. In the Lubuntu software center, the latest version of Eclipse available is 3.8. This is a little old but should be good for my development process. I tried getting a newer version but it wouldn’t install.
After I got Eclipse installed, I tried to program a NodeMCU devkit V0.9 and it failed and now I can’t get it to update at all. I received the PCBs from OSH Park today as well as the parts to build up a system, so I am going to set aside the devkit and start building the minimum on the PCB I designed. That should be the ESP-12E, the USB serial bridge, USB connector, and Voltage regulator plus a few passive components. My programming environment is configured but not tested.