ESPTool

Command palette access to esptool for managing ESP microcontrollers.

Features

The goal of this extension is giving easy access to some of esptool's functionality from within VS Code.

Most notably, it makes common tasks like erasing and flashing firmware a point and click operation rather than an exercise in remembering and typing command-line options.

You can also query the system on chip and flash ram characteristics.

Requirements

The host running this extension must have Python 3 installed as well as the esptool module.

You can get Python from: https://www.python.org/downloads/

The esptool module can be installed with pip, like this: py -m pip install esptool

Fatal error: failed to connect

If you get an error that looks like the following, press and hold the BOOT (or FLASH) button on your ESP device when running the command.

A fatal error occurred: Failed to connect to Espressif device: Wrong
boot mode detected (0x13)! The chip needs to be in download mode.

You can read more detail on GitHub if you want, but the easiest workaround is to hold down the BOOT / FLASH button on the ESP32 board.

Release Notes

1.2.0

Use python3 instead of python on non-Windows systems. Updated all dependent packages.

1.1.8

Provide configuration option to skip start-up checks for python binary and esptool module to help with Python virtual environments.

1.1.7

Share terminal with MPRemote extension when possible for more integrated look and feel.

1.1.6

Add esptool commands to mpremote context menu when both extensions are installed.

1.1.5

Converted code to TypeScript.

1.1.4

Remove incompatible 'auto' fallback for port selection.

1.1.3

Prompt for flash address to account for different boards.

1.1.2

Fix 'invalid header' error after flashing.

1.1.1

Fix to use py.exe only on Windows and python on all other OS.

1.1.0

Added a device selection prompt for when multiple devices are attached.