Getting Started with ESPHome ============================ .. seo:: :description: Getting Started guide for installing ESPHome using the command line and creating a basic configuration. :image: console.png ESPHome is the perfect solution for creating custom firmwares for your ESP8266/ESP32 boards. In this guide we’ll go through how to set up a basic “node” in a few simple steps. Installation ------------ Installing ESPHome is very easy. All you need to do is have `Python `__ installed and install the console script through ``pip``. .. code-block:: bash pip install esphome Alternatively, there’s also a Docker image available for easy installation (the Docker hub image is only available for AMD64 right now; if you have an RPi, please install ESPHome through ``pip`` or use :doc:`the Hass.io add-on `: .. code-block:: bash docker pull esphome/esphome Creating a Project ------------------ Now let’s setup a configuration file. Fortunately, ESPHome has a friendly setup wizard that will guide you through creating your first configuration file. For example, if you want to create a configuration file called ``livingroom.yaml``: .. code-block:: bash esphome livingroom.yaml wizard # On Docker: docker run --rm -v "${PWD}":/config -it esphome/esphome livingroom.yaml wizard At the end of this step, you will have your first YAML configuration file ready. It doesn't do much yet and only makes your device connect to the WiFi network, but still it’s a first step. Adding some features -------------------- So now you should have a file called ``livingroom.yaml`` (or similar). Go open that file in an editor of your choice and let’s add a :doc:`simple GPIO switch ` to our app. .. code-block:: yaml switch: - platform: gpio name: "Living Room Dehumidifier" pin: 5 The configuration format should hopefully immediately seem similar to you. ESPHome has tried to keep it as close to Home Assistant’s ``configuration.yaml`` schema as possible. In the above example, we’re simply adding a switch that’s called “Living Room Dehumidifier” (could control anything really, for example lights) and is connected to pin ``GPIO5``. The nice thing about ESPHome is that it will automatically also try to translate pin numbers for you based on the board. For example in the above configuration, if using a NodeMCU board, you could have just as well set ``D1`` as the ``pin:`` option. First uploading --------------- Now you can go ahead and add some more components. Once you feel like you have something you want to upload to your ESP board, simply plug in the device via USB and type the following command (replacing ``livingroom.yaml`` with your configuration file): .. code-block:: bash esphome livingroom.yaml run You should see ESPHome validating the configuration and telling you about potential problems. Then ESPHome will proceed to compile and upload the custom firmware. You will also see that ESPHome created a new folder with the name of your node. This is a new PlatformIO project that you can modify afterwards and play around with. If you are running docker on Linux you can add ``--device=/dev/ttyUSB0`` to your docker command to map a local USB device. .. code-block:: bash docker run --rm -v "${PWD}":/config --device=/dev/ttyUSB0 -it esphome/esphome livingroom.yaml run Now when you go to the Home Assistant "Integrations" screen (under "Configuration" panel), you should see the ESPHome device show up in the discovered section (although this can take up to 5 minutes). Alternatively, you can manually add the device by clicking "CONFIGURE" on the ESPHome integration and entering ".local" as the host. .. figure:: /components/switch/images/gpio-ui.png :align: center After the first upload, you will probably never need to use the USB cable again, as all features of ESPHome are enabled remotely as well. No more opening hidden boxes stowed in places hard to reach. Yay! Adding A Binary Sensor ---------------------- Next, we’re going to add a very simple binary sensor that periodically checks if a particular GPIO pin is pulled high or low - the :doc:`GPIO Binary Sensor `. .. code-block:: yaml binary_sensor: - platform: gpio name: "Living Room Window" pin: number: 16 inverted: True mode: INPUT_PULLUP This is an advanced feature of ESPHome. Almost all pins can optionally have a more complicated configuration schema with options for inversion and pinMode - the :ref:`Pin Schema `. This time when uploading, you don’t need to have the device plugged in through USB again. The upload will magically happen “over the air”. Using ESPHome directly, this is the same as from a USB cable, but for docker you need to supply an additional parameter: .. code-block:: bash esphome livingroom.yaml run # On docker docker run --rm -v "${PWD}":/config -it esphome/esphome livingroom.yaml run .. figure:: /components/binary_sensor/images/gpio-ui.png Where To Go Next ---------------- Great 🎉! You’ve now successfully set up your first ESPHome project and uploaded your first ESPHome custom firmware to your node. You’ve also learned how to enable some basic components via the configuration file. So now is a great time to go take a look at the :doc:`Components Index `. Hopefully you’ll find all sensors/outputs/etc. you’ll need in there. If you’re having any problems or want new features, please either create a new issue on the `GitHub issue tracker `__ or find us on the `Discord chat `__ (also make sure to read the :doc:`FAQ `). Bonus: ESPHome dashboard ------------------------ ESPHome features a dashboard that you can use to easily manage your nodes from a nice web interface. It was primarily designed for :doc:`the Hass.io add-on `, but also works with a simple command on \*nix machines (sorry, no windows). To start the ESPHome dashboard, simply start ESPHome with the following command (with ``config/`` pointing to a directory where you want to store your configurations) .. code-block:: bash # Install dashboard dependencies pip install tornado esptool esphome config/ dashboard # On Docker, host networking mode is required for online status indicators docker run --rm --net=host -v "${PWD}":/config -it esphome/esphome After that, you will be able to access the dashboard through ``localhost:6052``. .. figure:: images/dashboard.png See Also -------- - :doc:`ESPHome index ` - :doc:`getting_started_hassio` - :ghedit:`Edit`