Developing IoT Projects with ESP32: Unlock the full Potential of ESP32 in IoT development to create production-grade smart devices

Full disclosure: I was given a copy of the book to write a review. The ESP32 is a fan favorite among engineers, makers, and tinkerers looking to create various IoT projects. For the most part, I stick with the Arduino IDE and libraries when working with the ESP32. However, the non-Arduino option for development, ESP-IDF, is a wonderful suite of tools built to work with nearly any editor. If you are looking to develop professional, robust IoT projects with the ESP32, you will likely gravitate toward ESP-IDF. “Developing IoT Projects with ESP32” starts with a brief overview of the ESP32 hardware and ESP-IDF. In reality, the author assumes you have some working knowledge and experience with the ESP32, which is not a bad thing. This is not a book for beginners. Even though a “getting started” tutorial is provided for ESP-IDF, I would highly recommend using other online resources for setting up and using ESP-IDF. The official Espressif documentation covers more details and is plenty easy to follow. However, the book really shines after you have a basic grasp of ESP-IDF. It covers many topics required for developing professional projects that are sorely lacking in most online content. For example, it goes over the basics of FreeRTOS (the ESP-IDF flavor), step-through debugging, advanced libraries, REST, MQTT, security, IoT cloud services, and machine learning. If I were considering using the ESP32 for developing a professional project, this is the book I would want as my companion and reference guide. The biggest drawback is the lack of Bluetooth content. This chapter was apparently present in the first edition but sadly removed for this version. Even if WiFi is more popular, I think dismissing Bluetooth is a mistake, as plenty of developers still want to use low-energy, wireless connections to various devices (such as smartphones). The addition of machine learning chapters is welcome, but having both Bluetooth and ML would have been better. Additionally, the book switches between PlatformIO and native ESP-IDF tooling for installing third-party libraries. I recognize that PlatformIO is very popular, but I have generally struggled with it. My preference would be a focus on using the ESP-IDF and CMake for installing/linking such libraries, as that is a more portable approach. While the book is best used as a reference guide, it contains several projects that you can build to further grasp the concepts and tools: an audio player, a smart home plug, and a baby monitor. I highly recommend the book to anyone who wants to move beyond Arduino and level up their IoT skills using the ESP32.

Too many broken links. Haven’t responded to my pdf request. Be prepared to know or learn visual studio. Make sure you have the esp32-s3 because the book concentrates on this version

I am a software developer with over 40 years in the software industry. The Second edition is a major rewrite of the excellent First Edition. It has been updated for newer generations of the ESP32 SoC. It is clearer and better organized than the First Edition. All code examples are now in C++, allowing for the use of publicly available libraries that speed up development as well as object-oriented development. I also enjoy the expanded description of the ESP32 family of SoCs and refer back to it. Chapters on Machine Learning and Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) have been added introducing TensorFlow, TinyML, and the EdgeImpulse platform. An important chapter on free and open-source third-party libraries, which can significantly reduce development time, has also been added in the Second Edition. The author’s explanations are thorough and detailed, as in the First Edition. I have been able to use many principles and techniques I have learned from his books on other computing platforms. While the projects and examples in the First Edition were informative and instructive, I feel that the projects in the Second Edition are more meaningful and applicable to today’s problems. Several chapters include a New Features section to further stimulate ideas for enhancing the example projects. Many of the more advanced chapters also include a Further Reading section as well. That said, I’m a bit disappointed that the chapter on Bluetooth in the First Edition was dropped in the Second and the chapter on displays was also dropped, though a brief treatment of LCD displays was folded into Chapter 3 of the Second Edition. I’m glad I still have my copy of the First Edition. In conclusion, to me, the value of this new edition far exceeds its price. Despite a few missing “nice to haves,” it is a wonderful resource to come up to speed on the Internet of Things. While it starts at the very beginning and is suitable for beginners, there is plenty for more advanced developers as well. It will quickly bring the beginner to an advanced level. I would go so far as to say that purchasing both editions if you don’t already own the First, would be money well spent. If your budget only allows you to buy one, get the Second Edition.

Good

The book has been great so far; I’m just wrapping up Chapter 3. It covers everything you need to know about debugging, wiring, different IDEs—pretty much all the details to dive into the ESP32 world. Note that some libraries and code require updates since the book was published, but there’s an updated branch on the official GitHub page with the latest revisions. Additionally, you can easily use the ESP32-S3-Box-3, which is widely available, instead of the Box-3 Lite, as the newest updates were made for this device.

Bra kvalitet på boken. Lätt lästa texter och bra översikt.