Flashing Software Guide

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Flashing

WeighMyBru ESP32 Flash Guide - PlatformIO

Prerequisites Check

  • ✅ VSCode installed
  • ✅ PlatformIO extension installed
  • ✅ ESP32-S3-WROOM Dev Board
  • ✅ USB cable for connection

Step 1: Install Git (if not already installed)

Windows:

  1. Download Git from git-scm.com
  2. Run the installer with default settings
  3. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and verify: git --version

macOS:

# Using Homebrew
brew install git

# Or download from git-scm.com

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian):

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git

Step 2: Clone the WeighMyBru Repository

  1. Open Terminal/Command Prompt

  2. Navigate to your projects directory:

    cd ~/Documents  # or wherever you keep projects
mkdir esp32-projects  # optional: create a projects folder
cd esp32-projects

  3. Clone the repository:

    git clone https://github.com/031devstudios/weighmybru2.git
cd weighmybru2

Step 3: Open Project in VSCode with PlatformIO

  1. Launch VSCode

  2. Open the project folder:

    • File → Open Folder
    • Navigate to and select the weighmybru2 folder you just cloned
    • Click “Select Folder”

  3. Wait for PlatformIO to initialize (you’ll see activity in the bottom status bar)

Step 4: Verify/Configure platformio.ini

Check if the project has a platformio.ini file in the root directory. If not, or if you need to modify it for ESP32-S3, create/update it with:

[env:esp32-s3-devkitc-1]
platform = [email protected]
board = esp32-s3-devkitc-1
framework = arduino
monitor_speed = 115200
board_upload.flash_size = 4MB
board_build.filesystem = littlefs
board_build.partitions = huge_app.csv
upload_protocol = esptool
upload_speed = 460800
upload_flags = 
  --chip=esp32s3
  --before=default_reset
  --after=hard_reset
monitor_rts = 0
monitor_dtr = 0
build_flags = 
  -DARDUINO_USB_CDC_ON_BOOT=1
  -DBOARD_HAS_PSRAM
  -Os
  -DCORE_DEBUG_LEVEL=0

lib_deps = 
	robtillaart/HX711@^0.6.0
	https://github.com/me-no-dev/ESPAsyncWebServer.git
	https://github.com/me-no-dev/AsyncTCP.git
	h2zero/NimBLE-Arduino@^1.4.0
	adafruit/Adafruit SSD1306@^2.5.7
	adafruit/Adafruit GFX Library@^1.11.9

Step 5: Hardware Connection

  1. Connect your ESP32 to your computer via USB cable
  2. Put ESP32 in flash mode (if required):
    • Hold BOOT button
    • Press and release RESET button
    • Release BOOT button
    • (Some boards auto-reset, so this may not be necessary)

Step 6: Identify COM Port

In VSCode with PlatformIO:

  1. Look at the bottom blue status bar
  2. You should see a COM port listed (e.g., “COM3” on Windows, “/dev/ttyUSB0” on Linux)
  3. If not visible, click the PlatformIO icon in the left sidebar → Devices

Alternatively check manually:

  • Windows: Device Manager → Ports (COM & LPT)
  • macOS/Linux: ls /dev/tty* or dmesg | grep tty

Step 7: Build and Upload

Using PlatformIO GUI:

  1. Click the PlatformIO icon in the left sidebar (alien head icon)
  2. Under “PROJECT TASKS” expand your environment (e.g., esp32-s3-devkitc-1)
  3. Click “Build” to compile the code first
  4. Wait for successful build (check terminal output)
  5. Click “Upload” to flash the ESP32

Using PlatformIO Terminal:

  1. Open PlatformIO terminal: Terminal → New Terminal
  2. Build the project: 
    pio run
  3. Upload to ESP32: 
    pio run -t upload && -t uploadfs

Using VSCode Status Bar:

  • Click the checkmark (✓) in the blue bottom bar to build
  • Click the arrow (→) in the blue bottom bar to upload

Step 8: Monitor Serial Output

  1. Click the monitor plug icon in the blue status bar, or
  2. In PlatformIO sidebar: expand your environment → click “Monitor”
  3. Or use terminal command: 
    pio device monitor

Troubleshooting

Upload Issues:

  • Wrong COM port: Check device manager/system and update platformio.ini if needed
  • Board not in flash mode: Try the BOOT+RESET procedure again
  • Driver issues: Install ESP32 USB drivers from Espressif’s website
  • Permission denied (Linux/macOS): Add user to dialout group: sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER

Build Issues:

  • Missing libraries: Check if libraries need to be installed (they’ll be listed in build errors)
  • Wrong board config: Verify your ESP32-S3 variant matches the platformio.ini settings

Cannot find device:

# Check if device is detected
pio device list

# On Linux, you might need:
sudo chmod 666 /dev/ttyUSB0  # or your specific device

WeighMyBru Specific Notes

Based on the project description, this scale project includes:

  • Webserver functionality - After flashing, the ESP32 will host a web interface
  • WiFi connectivity - You’ll need to configure WiFi credentials
  • Bluetooth support - For GaggiMate integration
  • HX711 load cell interface - Make sure your hardware connections match the code

Post-Flash Configuration:

  1. Connect to the ESP32’s WiFi access point (check serial monitor for details - AP IP :192.168.4.1)
  2. Access the web interface for calibration and configuration
  3. Configure your home WiFi through the web interface

Success Indicators

✅ Build completes without errors
✅ Upload shows “SUCCESS” message
✅ Serial monitor shows boot messages
✅ ESP32 creates WiFi access point (for initial setup)

Your WeighMyBru scale should now be running! Check the serial monitor for the web interface URL and initial setup instructions.